Rhia Hamilton is the Director of Education for the Center for Social and Emotional Education. She is an experienced high school social studies teacher, curriculum developer, and school leader. Ms. Hamilton is currently an advanced doctoral candidate in School District Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University from which she received an Ed.M. in Public School Leadership. Her particular research interests include: how teachers support students’ emotional and social development in advisory classes, social justice education, and team-based professional development for advisory teachers. Ms. Hamilton has conducted research in small learning communities in New York City and worked with the National Center for Restructuring Education, Schools, and Teaching (NCREST) before joining CSEE. She received her B.A. in History and B.S. in Social Studies Education from Miami University of Ohio. In addition, she received her Ed.M. with a concentration in urban policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.