Who We Are
The Region 1 Comprehensive Center at American Institutes for Research (AIR) builds the capacity of state education agencies (SEAs), local education agencies, and schools to improve instructional quality, address achievement and equity gaps, and improve outcomes for all students on state-identified priority initiatives. Region 1 staff bring substantial technical assistance and content expertise in designing, developing, and implementing strategies to support educational improvement.
Our project plans are tailored to address high-leverage challenges articulated by education leaders in the region. In addition, we work closely with the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Northeast and Islands stakeholders to use data and research to improve student outcomes.
Our Approach
Region 1 Comprehensive Center provides technical assistance to SEAs in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the Region 1 Comprehensive Center is part of a network of centers that focus on building the capacity of SEAs to develop, design, and implement strategies that improve educational outcomes for students through an approach that includes:
Facilitating the identification, design and implementation of evidence-based practices and innovations that meet the needs of Region 1 states.
Increasing opportunities for Region 1 students through community engagement and cross-agency collaboration.
Leveraging innovative strategies and technology to address state- and community-specific needs.
Using our deep content expertise and knowledge of education policy and systems to support Region 1 states.
About the Comprehensive Center Network
The Region 1 Comprehensive Center is part of the Comprehensive Center Network, which is made up of 19 regional centers and a national center tasked with providing capacity-building services to states, districts, and schools to improve educational outcomes and instructional quality for all students. In October 2019, the U.S. Department of Education awarded five-year grants to the current cohort of centers, which offer services to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Bureau of Indian Education, and U.S. territories and outlying areas. For more information and resources from across the network, visit the Comprehensive Center Portal.
Our Advisory Board
Advisory board members are critical to the success of our work, and their voices guarantee that our work meets the region’s needs. The board—which represents a broad range of state stakeholders—advises Region 1 staff on strategies for addressing the region’s education needs, maintaining high quality standards, and promoting improved student academic achievement.
Maine
- Dan Chuhta, Deputy Commissioner, Maine Department of Education
- Tim Doak, Superintendent, Regional Service Unit 39 Caribou
- David Dorr, Career and Technical Education Director, Somerset Career and Technical Education Center
- Pender Makin, Commissioner, Maine Department of Education
- Heather Whitaker, Maine – State Teacher of the Year, Gorham Middle School
Massachusetts
- Samantha Aigner-Treworgy, Fellow, Bipartisan Policy Center
- Joseph Berger, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, University of Massachusetts Boston
- David Chard, Dean, School of Education, Wheelock College at Boston University
- Kendra Winner, Research and Evaluation Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
New Hampshire
- Fred Bramante, President and Founder, The Center for Competency-Based Learning
- Christine Brennan, Deputy Commissioner, New Hampshire Department of Education
- Frank Edelblut, Commissioner, New Hampshire Department of Education
Vermont
- Heather Bouchey, Deputy Secretary, Vermont Agency of Education
- Jess DeCarolis, Director of Student Pathways, Vermont Agency of Education
- Yasmine Ziesler, Chief Academic Officer, Vermont State Colleges System
