Dr. Kristen Nguyen
Dr. Nguyen is a passionate educator who is committed to social justice and lifelong learning. Her experiences include classroom teaching (grades 3-12) in private and public school settings, working with adult learners through professional development provision and instructional coaching, and curriculum development across content areas and grade levels.
Experience
The following offers a snapshot of Dr. Nguyen's expertise illustrated through relevant professional experiences. For a full CV, please get in touch with Dr. Nguyen via the contact form or connect with her on LinkedIn above.
Middle School Matters
As the Manager of Curriculum and Professional Learning for Success Bound, Kristen leads development of a middle grade curriculum focused on helping young adolescents explore who they are and who they want to be. The curriculum integrates social-emotional learning with postsecondary exploration to help 5th-9th grade students develop foundational skills, explore their identities and cultures, and plan for their futures. Kristen also supports middle grade educators in creating positive conditions for learning through professional learning offerings.
Social & Emotional Learning
As a Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) Instructional Specialist within the Office of Social & Emotional Learning at Chicago Public Schools, Kristen supported district-wide SEL initiatives. Kristen facilitated professional learning on adult SEL, integration of SEL within academic content areas, and strategies for creating a supportive school and classroom culture. Kristen also led school leaders across the district in using student self-report data to guide universal tier 1 decision-making for SEL instructional practices.
Curriculum Development
As a Curriculum Writer with the Public Consulting Group, Kristen contributed to the Chicago Public School district’s Skyline project. Developed through the Curriculum Equity Initiative, Skyline is the district's first-ever comprehensive and universally-accessible curriculum resource that is tailored to the needs of Chicago students. Kristen developed materials for 12th grade English language arts that support students from all backgrounds by reflecting and celebrating the rich cultural diversity of the district, integrating social & emotional learning within academic instruction, and combining rigorous and standard-aligned content with strategies for supporting diverse and multilingual learners.
Teaching and Leading
As a classroom teacher and department chair in public and private school settings, Kristen developed a passion for innovative and justice-oriented educational practices. The years Kristen spent in school buildings working directly with students, their families, and colleagues have shaped the educator she is today and informs the work she does with district staff, school leaders, and other educators across the K-12 spectrum. Kristen brings firsthand experience with the challenges and joys of this profession to her conversations and collaborations with other educators.