Inspired by her own journey of radically improving her life as a professional mom of three and wife to a farmer, Dr. Kristen developed her framework for transformation to help individuals take steps to live a life they desire. By focusing on her physical, mental, and emotional health, Dr. Kristen changed the trajectory of her own life and shares her learnings so that others can do the same.

Once a burned out, professional mom of three, Dr. Kristen knows what it feels like to be on the hamster wheel of life. Drawing from her personal journey and transformative framework, she illuminates actionable steps for individuals to chart a course towards authentic fulfillment. Whether individuals are living life in the fast lane, headed toward burnout, or already burned out, Dr. Kristen guides individuals to pause, reflect, and define their true aspirations, empowering them to reclaim ownership of their lives.

From beloved animated tales like Finding Dory to epic adventures like Hercules, storytelling follows a universal pattern: characters navigating life-changing events, overcoming obstacles, and achieving their goals. This narrative structure resonates in the lives of real-life heroes as well. Often, individuals set ambitious goals without a clear purpose, find themselves caught in the whirlwind of life's demands, or feel a deep calling without knowing how to answer it. Dr. Kristen shares her transformative framework, inspiring audiences to embark on their own journeys of self-improvement and reclaim a life of fulfillment and purpose.

Dr. Kristen has learned how to find courage in moments of the unknown. Specific moments in her life caused her to have courage in the face of fear and resulted in moving forward by taking action. She has learned how personal growth begins with vulnerability. Dr. Kristen will inspire you to get vulnerable with yourself—and others—so that you can take action to create needed changes in your life.

Once a burned out, professional mom of three, Dr. Kristen knows what it feels like to be on the hamster wheel of life. Drawing from her personal journey and transformative framework, she illuminates actionable steps for individuals to chart a course towards authentic fulfillment. Whether individuals are living life in the fast lane, headed toward burnout, or already burned out, Dr. Kristen guides individuals to pause, reflect, and define their true aspirations, empowering them to reclaim ownership of their lives.

Dr. Kristen shares her wisdom on how to live a life of personal and professional fulfillment. Combined with stories of failures and successes, Dr. Kristen’s framework for transformation can be applied to individuals young and old so that they too can learn to live a life of optimal physical, emotional, and mental health. No matter the age, Dr. Kristen shows individuals what is possible when it comes to creating changes over time that lead to fulfilling personal and professional goals.

Drawing on her extensive background in teaching secondary ELA students and undergraduate methods courses, as well as her scholarship and publications focused on curriculum development, Dr. Kristen offers invaluable guidance to educators seeking to refine their curriculum design skills. Participants will learn to employ the principles of backwards design to craft, adapt, and elevate curriculum across PreK-12 classrooms.

Dr. Kristen's journey into understanding academic rigor was sparked by her principal's feedback during a post-observation session, urging her to infuse her lessons with more rigor. Recognizing the necessity for clarity and actionable steps, she researched the essence of academic rigor, exploring its significance and practical implementation strategies. In this session, participants will gain insight into the depths of knowledge inherent in rigorous instruction. Through interactive discussions, participants will learn how to modify their instruction and assessment design, enabling them to elevate the rigor of their teaching practice.

As student populations become more varied, it's imperative that educators adapt and tailor their instruction to address both the cultural and academic needs of their learners. Dr. Kristen will guide participants through an exploration of the principles underlying culturally responsive teaching. Practical strategies, methods, and resources designed to facilitate responsiveness to students' cultural backgrounds and academic requirements will be addressed. Participants will have opportunities to develop personalized approaches to modify their instructional practices, empowering them to effectively implement equitable teaching methods.

This session is designed to provide comprehensive support for teachers who are in their initial years of teaching and/or are new to a particular school. It aims to address both the challenges and successes encountered by educators in the classroom. Drawing upon Dr. Kristen's extensive teaching experience, doctoral research, and mentorship of new teachers in diverse educational settings, participants will gain valuable insights and strategies for navigating the early stages of their careers, advocating for their students, and effectively collaborating with colleagues.

Teaching is undeniably a profession that demands a great deal from individuals. However, the pursuit of work-life balance often remains unaddressed, leaving many educators feeling overwhelmed rather than fulfilled. Drawing from her own journey, Dr. Kristen emphasizes the significance of achieving a harmonious blend of personal and professional wellness. Through her transformative framework, participants are inspired to embark on a journey towards creating the life they aspire to lead so they can thrive as an educator.

This session focuses on the vital role of literacy, particularly emphasizing writing and writing assessments across all subject areas. Participants will delve into the current utilization of writing within their classrooms, crafting purpose statements and setting goals for integrating writing effectively in their subject areas. Discussions on fostering a positive writing identity and growth mindsets will be central to the session. Through an exploration of diverse writing assessments and rubrics, participants will gain actionable insights and resources to refine their existing writing assessments, targeting areas for enhancement and ensuring alignment with instructional objectives.