Meet Krista!

Known warmly across her communities as 'Kind Krista,' she approaches her life and leadership with a calm presence, a helpful spirit, and a deliberate focus on peace, structure, and joy. She doesn't just manage behaviour, projects, or classrooms on a daily basis but she designs learning environments where curiosity is nurtured and building confidence is the ultimate goal. Her early academic background in psychology gave her a sharp lens into how human beings connect, and her subsequent Master’s in Distance Education & E-Learning proved that engagement isn’t bound by the walls of a physical room. It is a dynamic state that can be designed, scaled, and sustained through innovation. 

Before Krista set out to research student engagement in this modern era, she was busy building the spaces where it happens. Over a diverse voluntary and professional career spanning more than eight years, Krista has worked directly with learners ranging from ages 3 to 26—navigating daycares, k-12 classrooms, digital learning platforms, university admissions youth events, youth dance events, kids summer camps, and even youth initiatives in media and journalism. What those multi-faceted years revealed is a simple, foundational truth: a learner’s ability to "grow and glow" is completely dependent on how deeply they are engaged. 

For Krista, the intersection between technology, human connection, and engagement has become a lifelong study. Her research into gamification in online undergraduate spaces proved that making learning interactive transforms student outcomes from passive compliance to active ownership. Now, as a doctoral student pursuing her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) at the American College of Education, she is turning her attention back to the foundational years of learning. Her dissertation research will focus on how elementary students in grades 2–6 perceive the instructional strategies used to engage them. She is asking the vital questions: What makes a young learner truly feel stimulated, challenged, and motivated in today's educational landscape, and how can teachers intentionally foster those exact conditions? 

When she steps away from her studies and young learners, she grounds herself by diving into a good book and immersing herself in the beauty of nature—pursuits that constantly refresh the creativity and resilience she brings to her work. Driven by faith, purpose, and a relentless commitment to excellence, Krista looks at the complex, evolving systems of education and sees a brilliant opportunity. Her work remains focused on empowering the next generation of leaders, ensuring that every educational journey is not just effective, but deeply meaningful, memorable, and fun. 

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