Dr. Alyson Lerma has worked in various federal programs roles for more than a decade, both at the district and state levels. She has served as a district supervisor in large school systems in Tennessee, as well as the Director of ESEA and IDEA Monitoring at the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE). Dr. Lerma developed the three tier risk-based monitoring system currently in use at TDOE and spear-headed a state-wide initiative to restructure the Title I, Neglected and Delinquent Program in Tennessee. She currently serves as the Director of Grants Development and Management in the second largest school district in the state with various charter and non-public schools. In addition, she has applied successfully for multiple federal grants and her team is responsible for overseeing various state and federal grants, including the emergency relief funds and Title II as well as ESEA equitable services. She holds elected positions in two state-wide organizations, M.A.S.S. (for the state's largest school system) and TAFPA (for federal programs administrators in TN).