Andrea Ricotta is a self-proclaimed data-nerd who is passionate about helping others use information effectively to improve outcomes for students and communities. She has over 17 years of experience at the classroom, state, and non-profit levels.

For the past 9 years, Andrea served as a Senior Strategist at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). At DESE, Andrea led statewide efforts around Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), including leading the work to re-design the DESE MTSS Blueprint and launched statewide professional learning and coaching “Academies” focused on school and district-level MTSS for social-emotional learning/behavior/mental health, math, literacy, and integrated student support systems. In addition, Andrea launched free paraeducator e-learning modules in Massachusetts, partnered with district leaders to bring practical, sustainable change to schools identified in the accountability system, and managed statewide program evaluations.

Before joining DESE Andrea started as a classroom teacher, including as a founding faculty member at Sunset Park High School in Brooklyn, NY. She transitioned into the non-profit sector and helped City Year, Inc. and City Year Boston refine its Whole School, Whole Child model and focused on strategic data use to drive continuous program improvements. At City Year Boston, Andrea lead 15 staff and over 125 AmeriCorps members through a year of service in Boston Public Schools, helping them achieve the goals of improving student attendance, supporting positive behavior and social-emotional development, and elevating academic course performance.

Outside work, Andrea and her husband Dan chase around 3 school-aged boys and their dog, Maisy. She spends time in Massachusetts and Maine.