Dr. Christina Grant

Dr. Christina Grant is the Executive Director for the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University. Throughout her career as an educator, administrator, and executive in some of America’s largest school systems, Dr. Grant has worked to create evidence-based solutions that improve outcomes for students and communities.

At CEPR, Dr. Grant brings together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to build transformative partnerships grounded in rigorous research that will benefit learners at every stage of life.

Dr. Grant previously served as District of Columbia’s State Superintendent of Education for the Office of the State Superintendent of Education. While there, she oversaw grants, standards, assessments, and accountability for the District’s elementary and secondary schools, including implementing the first revision of social studies standards in twenty years. Grant also led a $100 million investment in programs to drive post-pandemic academic recovery. Prior to the District of Columbia, Dr. Grant served as the Chief of Charter Schools and Innovation for The School District of Philadelphia. In that capacity, she redesigned the accountability metrics for Innovation and Alternative Education school models and helped lead the district’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Grant has served as a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, teaching courses on educational leadership. Much of her research and public speaking and writing has focused on the challenges faced by women in leadership and the importance of research-based investments and evidence-based interventions..

Dr. Grant’s leadership is grounded in the belief that diversity and inclusiveness is more than just a phrase but the cornerstone set of advancements needed to truly transform public education and our world.

Dr. Grant’s career began as a public school teacher in Harlem; since then, she’s held numerous roles in education, including as Superintendent of the Great Oaks Foundation and Deputy Executive Director at the New York City Department of Education. Dr. Grant has a doctorate in education with a focus on organizational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania; two master’s degrees: one in organizational leadership from the Teachers College of Columbia University and one in teaching and adolescent reading from Fordham University; and a bachelor’s degree from Hofstra University.