Kristie Kauerz

A Colorado native, Kristie Kauerz returned home in 2018. In addition to her faculty position, she directs the National P-3 Center. Kristie specializes in education reform efforts that address the continuum of learning from birth through 3rd grade, integrating birth-to-five system building and K-12 reforms.

Her P-3 work is anchored in collaborations with school districts, state agencies, and early learning stakeholders. Earlier in her career, she served in the administrations of two former Colorado governors -- Governor Roy Romer and Governor Bill Ritter. And she has held academic posts at Harvard Graduate School of Education and University of Washington’s College of Education. Her research interests straddle the paradigmatic, pedagogical, and policy divides that exist between birth-to-five and K-12 systems.

An important aspect of Kristie’s work is designing and delivering professional leadership opportunities that strengthen the relationships and organizational strategies necessary to implement P-3 alignment. She designed and directed the Washington P-3 Executive Leadership Certificate Program, a credit-bearing course of study that co-enrolled administrators from early learning and K-12. She has also led the National P-3 Institute since 2008.

Areas of Expertise

• Governance
• Full-Day Kindergarten
• P-3/PreK-3rd Grade Alignment
• Early Childhood Systems

Education, Licensure & Certifications

• Ed.D., Teachers College, Columbia University
• M.A., The American University
• B.A., Colorado College

Research

Kristie's research interests straddle the paradigmatic, pedagogical, and policy divides that exist between birth-to-five and K-12 systems. She focuses on both the organizational reforms and the cognitive sensemaking necessary to build learning continua that support children’s development, learning, and lifelong success.