Nikki Churchwell (she/her) serves in the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development, supporting the U.S. Department of Education’s efforts to elevate the teaching profession and address the educator shortage. With over a decade of experience in education policy at the federal, state, and local levels, Nikki is dedicated to using data and evidence to inform policies and practices that foster education excellence and ensure equal access. She began her career as a middle school math teacher, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Education as a first-generation college student at the University of Georgia and her Master’s degree in Urban Education Policy from Brown University.