I'm a dedicated educator and leader with nearly three decades of experience in online and face-to-face K-12, higher education, government and corporate education. My passion lies in fostering student-centered success through innovative approaches to educator recruitment, talent development, and policy implementation. I currently lead the Masters of Science in Teaching and Learning and Educator Leadership program at Colorado Sate University Global.

As the former Associate Commissioner of Educator Talent at the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), I’ve been at the forefront of efforts to expand and enhance our state's educator workforce. In that role, the Educator Talent Division grew from a $3.2 million to a $42 million program. I spearheaded initiatives like the TEACH Colorado recruitment and retention program and established the nation’s first Educator Research and Impact unit, which provides critical data to support Colorado’s efforts in addressing teacher shortages and ensuring that every classroom is led by a high-quality educator.

Before taking on that role, I served as the Director of Educator Effectiveness Support and Review at CDE and the Director of Curriculum, Career, and Technical Education at the South Dakota Department of Education, Chief Human Resource Officer in the Greeley-Evans school district, Chief Learning Officer for Alva Learning Systems, an online learning company, and English teacher in several districts. In these positions, I focused on creating strong educational systems, implementing state standards, improving career and technical education programs, deepening the educator pipeline, and supporting comprehensive teacher evaluation and pay systems across the state.

In addition to my work in state education departments, I founded CK ID Consulting, where I’ve advised and consulted K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and corporate clients. My expertise in eLearning and blended-learning environments has helped numerous organizations transition their professional development and curriculum to more effective online formats. I’ve also have the opportunity to be teaching faculty at the University of Virginia, where I instruct graduate courses in educational technology, performance improvement, and online learning.

My academic journey includes an Ed.D. in Educational Administration and Policy Studies from Bethel University, an Ed.S. in Administrative Leadership and Policy Studies, an M.A. in Educational Technology/Instructional Design, and a B.A. in English Education. I hold professional licenses as a superintendent, principal, and teacher, and I’m actively engaged in several professional organizations, including the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC), the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE), and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE).