New Teacher Center, a nonprofit leader in coaching-based professional learning for new and established educators, is pleased to announce Dr. Christy Harris has been named our new chief program officer. In this role, Christy will lead NTC’s programmatic strategy to leverage coaching to engage educators, center the student experience, and build powerful instructional cultures where teaching and learning flourish. She joins the organization with an impressive background in educational leadership and a deep commitment to improving educational outcomes for students at all levels.

“Christy has a proven track record of developing the enabling conditions necessary to cultivate human connection, relevance, and engagement for everyone in the school building,” said CEO Tommy Chang. “Her deep knowledge of how to catalyze coaching and professional learning support to meet the needs of a rapidly changing teacher workforce is aligned with NTC’s vision. We’re thrilled to add her experience in building transformative learning for educators to design optimal learning environments — student-centered learning spaces that are affirming, relational, and social-emotional, the foundation that research shows drives powerful instruction.”

Christy recently served as the dean of regional programs for the Relay Graduate School of Education, an accredited nonprofit institution of higher education serving 4,000 teachers and 1,200 school leaders across the U.S., offering degree programs, professional development, and learning for teachers, principals, college students, and members of the public. In her role as dean, she led program directors and faculty nationwide, ensuring that each program provided high-quality teacher and leader preparation to “develop the next generation of teachers…to be content experts with high expectations, as well as relationship builders who create positive learning environments where all kids can succeed.”

She began her career teaching English at Georgia State University, which sparked her passion for impacting students’ lives at the beginning of their learning journeys. Christy transitioned to serve as a middle school English teacher and eventually became a middle school principal, where her leadership earned her school a National Blue Ribbon Award. She furthered her impact supporting educators and students as chief academic officer of a charter school network and as a leadership consultant before returning to higher education as the founding dean of the Relay Graduate School of Education in Atlanta, Georgia.

Christy holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Georgia, a master’s degree in English from Georgia State University, a master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and a doctorate in education in Leadership and Learning in Organizations from Vanderbilt University.