Amanda Farris serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Strategic Initiatives in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. Her primary focus is on developing and implementing educational and strategic policy regarding teacher quality, literacy, early childhood education, math and science, education technology, high school reform, school choice, supplemental educational services and migrant education.

Prior to joining the U.S. Department of Education, Farris served as Professional Staff for Chairman John Boehner on the U.S. House of Representatives Education and the Workforce Committee. In this position she worked with Members of Congress to promote successful implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act and reauthorize the Head Start Act.

Farris has also served as Professional Staff for the Subcommittee on Employment Safety and Training of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, helping to draft the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002. She started her career as a Legislative Correspondent in the office of Senator Mike Enzi.

Farris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Western Carolina University.