Director, Division of Student Success, Kentucky Department of Education (KDE)
Christina works in KDE’s Office of Continuous Improvement and Support as the Director of the Division of Student Success, which oversees alternative education, school safety, and dropout prevention and reengagement. She represents KDE on a number of interagency groups related to juvenile justice reforms, behavioral health, school safety, alternative education, and chronic absenteeism. Prior to joining KDE she worked at the U.S. Department of Education (ED) on school turnaround and grants for high schools, with a special interest in dropout prevention and recovery, rural education, and wrap-around supports to prepare students to graduate high school with clear pathways to college and career. Prior to joining ED, Christina worked in the non-government sector on education policy and finance, program evaluation, and professional development curriculum. She began her career providing direct service to Kentucky youth with severe emotional and behavior disorders, many of whom had experienced abuse and neglect. A Kentucky native, Christina has also worked, studied, and volunteered in various countries in Latin America, Europe, and the Caribbean. Christina earned a master’s degree in education administration and a master’s of social work with a focus on program planning, evaluation, policy, and community organizing from Boston University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in Spanish from the University of Kentucky. |