Christie Imholt, Aurora Public Schools, Executive Director of District Policy and Strategy

Christie Imholt is the Executive Director of District Policy and Strategy for Aurora Public Schools, where she has served since 2017. She oversees the development and implementation of the district’s new strategic plan, Destination APS; leads progress monitoring and continuous improvement for the Board of Education’s Goals and Guardrails, guides the district’s legislative positions, and provides oversight of key district initiatives relating to, such as Health Sciences High School, repurposing previously closed schools, and opening new schools. She previously oversaw the district’s plan to respond to declining enrollment.

Prior to joining APS, Christie spent her career in a range of education and policy roles. She taught high school social studies in Washington, DC and Virginia. Christie also worked on the development and implementation of education programs and policy at the U.S. Department of Education, where she supported states and the department with initial design and implementation of the School Improvement Grant Program and ESEA Flexibility planning related to accountability, school improvement and educator evaluations and at the White House Office of Management and Budget, supporting the initial design of Native Youth Community Projects Grant Program. Christie worked as part of Denver Public Schools’ Teacher Leadership & Collaboration Team, scaling the district’s innovative teacher leadership model to nearly all district-operated schools.

She has been recognized as a James Madison Junior Fellow and Congressional Fellow, fellowships for aspiring and current social studies teachers, and an Education Pioneer. Christie holds a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Chicago.