Dr. Christine M. Neumerski is a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Educational Innovation and Improvement, and she is the Associate Director for the EdD in School System Leadership.  She began her career as a middle school teacher in Washington, DC, and then as a teacher educator in Detroit, MI.  These experiences led her to focus on understanding the systemic barriers that marginalized students face in accessing quality learning opportunities.  Her research and teaching focus on improving instruction for vulnerable student populations; instructional leadership as a lever for school reform; research-practice partnerships; qualitative research; and the relationship between public policies and classroom practices.  Prior to joining the faculty at UMD, Christine worked at Vanderbilt University and the University of Michigan, where she conducted several large-scale studies of school system improvement efforts.  She has also worked in urban teacher and leader education, and most recently, she has focused on deeper learning opportunities for neurodiverse children.  Christine received her PhD in Educational Administration and Policy from the University of Michigan.