Michelle Gainer serves as Program Director for Project TEAM at Teach Plus Pennsylvania. In this new pilot role, she will lead the implementation of a three-year strategic staffing initiative developed in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia and Public Impact. Michelle will coordinate district and school-level planning, build alignment across partners, and support the implementation of Multi-Classroom Leader teams through project management, professional learning, and coaching. She will design learning experiences for school leaders and teacher leaders, facilitate data-informed continuous improvement, and help participating schools build the leadership systems, instructional routines, and collaborative structures needed to expand access to excellent teaching and improve student outcomes.
Before joining Teach Plus, Michelle served in school- and district-level leadership roles across Philadelphia. Her experience included leading districtwide culture and engagement initiatives, designing professional learning, coaching educators and school leaders, managing policy implementation, and developing structures that elevated student, educator, and community voice. She also served as an assistant principal, climate and culture coach, teacher leader, and classroom educator. Across these roles, Michelle built a strong record of managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives and creating practical systems that strengthened adult practice, advanced educational equity, and supported student success. Michelle is also a proud Teach Plus Pennsylvania alumna and former program participant, having participated in both the T3 (Teacher Turned Teacher Leader) Program and the Pennsylvania Policy Fellowship. Her journey from Teach Plus program participant to Teach Plus staff member brings her experience full circle and allows her to draw on her firsthand understanding of the Teach Plus experience as she supports educators and school leaders through Project TEAM.
Michelle holds a Master’s Degree in Education Policy and Leadership from American University, a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. She lives in Philadelphia with her family. Outside of work, she enjoys rock climbing, writing and creating educational resources for families, and cheering her son, Benjamin, at ninja competitions.
