Linda Gerstle

Linda Gerstle was named CAST’s Chief Executive Officer in 2016 and retired in 2021. She came to CAST from From the Top, a national arts education program and the preeminent showcase for pre-collegiate musicians, where she was part of the senior management team, overseeing all education and outreach programs.  Linda has led major state and national educational initiatives, most notably as CEO and President of ATLAS Learning Communities (2003–2010), a national consulting organization that partnered with 300 schools to enhance student learning and achievement, serving over 100,000 students in 16 states. Earlier, Linda held leadership roles at Education Development Center and the Massachusetts Department of Education. She began her career providing music therapy for special-needs students.