Cory Stai, M.ED., is a Senior Technical Assistance Consultant at the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and has served as a project lead and subject matter expert for the Region 1 Comprehensive Center since 2022. Stai currently leads the MA Adolescent Literacy Selection Tool (A-LIST) development team in collaboration with MA DESE and as a member of the VT Literacy Playbook development team in collaboration with EDC and VT AOE.
His expertise includes literacy instruction and assessment, MTSS, and implementation science. In his previous role as state literacy specialist for a state education agency, he oversaw the technical assistance and data collection for third grade reading proficiency and supported ELA standards implementation. He holds a master’s degree in literacy education from the University of Minnesota and was formerly a secondary ELA teacher, K–12 reading intervention specialist, and adjunct instructor.