Lacy Wood

Lacy Wood is a Research Associate at RMC, providing technical assistance (TA) to the Gulf Comprehensive Center. Ms. Wood serves on projects with the Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama State Departments of Education. Previously, at American Institutes for Research, she served as an associate director to the U.S. Department of Education’s Statewide Family Engagement Centers. She served as the dissemination and engagement director for the Regional Educational Laboratory Southwest, leading a team charged with translating high-leverage research to practice. Ms. Wood also directed the statewide Illinois Quality Afterschool Program, overseeing training and TA for 21st Century Community Learning Center grantees. She has over 25 years of experience helping education systems design and implement education initiatives that support student success and foster meaningful partnerships with families. She leads a national network of state education agency staff on family engagement, is a founding board member of the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE), and cochairs NAFSCE’s policy committee.

EDUCATION: M.L.I.S., University of Texas at Austin; B.A., Southwestern University

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Education policy and program development, family and community engagement, communication strategy and dissemination, research translation and product development, adult learning and facilitation, and grantee performance measurement