Chris Lee Nicastro, Ph.D. is a subject matter expert for AEM and a facilitator for the EED TA Center. She brings decades of experience as a teacher, administrator, superintendent and chief state school officer. She has worked on several DOE programs including the Teacher-Leader Study, Co-Lead of the Central Regional Advisory Committee for the Comprehensive Center, and Co-Lead of the Region 5 Comprehensive Center serving Virginia. 

Throughout her career she has focused on developing and implementing systems to support equitable and universal access to quality teaching and programs. Her leadership has been noted for her inclusive approach to problem-solving, planning, and the use of data and data systems to monitor and improve results. She has been recognized locally, statewide and nationally as a relentless advocate for underserved populations and her unwavering insistence on quality schools and quality educators for every child. Equity and accountability were highlighted in every effort. 

She holds a master's degree in educational administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a PhD from St. Louis University. She has received numerous awards at the local, state and national levels and currently serves on several non-profit boards including the National Council for Teacher Quality.