Hi. I'm Kristine.
Although Learning with a Smile was ultimately established in 2015, my story began much earlier in a small, free standing classroom in rural Barbados. While teaching math and English to 3rd graders,
I developed my love for education.
A brief stint in HR quickly validated a passion for counseling, but I missed my roots (and the kids). Two short years and a master’s degree later, I began my career as a Professional School Counselor in a top district in the Capital Region in New York. However, I began to notice issues that I struggled to solve during the school day.
Students were struggling and receiving supports that had little impact. They were frustrated and stressed, often becoming discouraged, and shutting down.
Teachers worked tirelessly to put out fires (rather than being proactive), chasing students for their work, because they lacked support and training needed to see the bigger picture.
Parents reported knowing that their children were capable of more. However, constant nagging about academics only resulted in strained relationships at home. They were frustrated, fed up, and searching for help.
These issues weren’t the fault of students, teachers or parents, rather the system itself. Teachers were asking students to stay organized, complete homework, and develop healthy study habits, but weren’t helping them develop the skills to do so. Parents provided content tutors to boost grades, but sessions weren’t laying the foundational groundwork necessary for success. Students’ confidence was fractured, relationships strained, and results nonexistent.
That’s when I felt inspired to create Learning with a Smile, to teach foundational skills necessary for academic and workplace success, helping clients to increase their confidence, regain their passion for learning, and find success in life.
It wasn’t until after Learning with a Smile was established that I realized my passion. It struck me that twenty years ago I was, in fact, the very student I described above. I was bright, but stressed beyond belief. I was struggling but doing well enough to fly under the radar at school. I was a student athlete who only had time for athletics and academics, and no social life, because I wasn’t working efficiently. I appeared fine but I lacked confidence and felt like a complete mess. Looking back, I realized I simply lacked executive functioning skills.
What I really needed was Learning with a Smile — I needed a coach. I needed "me."
