HOPE Forward

09/25/2026

I’ve been a little quiet on here lately, but for a very good reason. 💚

A lot of my extra time and energy has gone into preparing for my first keynote, While We Wait, which I’ll be presenting tomorrow!

I’m excited, nervous, and very ready to finally share something I’ve been working on for quite a while.

Sometimes being quiet online just means something meaningful is happening behind the scenes. 💚

08/14/2026

I wasn’t ready for summer to end.

And maybe you weren’t either.

A positive mindset doesn’t mean pretending we’re excited about every early morning, busy schedule, or change of routine.

Sometimes it’s simply choosing to remember why showing up matters.

If I can help one student feel seen, supported, encouraged, or a little more confident today, then today mattered.

I don’t have to be ready for the whole year.

I can just look for the difference I can make today. 🌱

08/03/2026

States with the Best & Worst Early Education Systems in 2026

07/31/2026

The beginning of a new school year always brings hope.

Fresh classrooms.
Fresh routines.
Fresh faces.
Fresh possibilities.

But if you've been in education for more than a year or two, you also know it can bring overwhelm before the school year even begins.

The planning.
The expectations.
The long to do lists.
The pressure to give your best each day.

You've planned for your classroom. You've planned for your students. Make sure you've planned for yourself, too.

Rooted & Rising: An 8-Week Guided Journal for Educators was created to help you intentionally reflect, reconnect with your values, celebrate the small wins, and cultivate habits that support your well-being throughout the school year.

Whether you spend five minutes with it before your day begins or use it to unwind at the end of the day, small moments of reflection can make a meaningful difference over time.

🌱 Back-to-school introductory pricing is available through August 31. Beginning September 1, the paperback and digital PDF will be available at their regular prices.

Choose the format that works best for you:
📘 Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GW2Q6CZX?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
📄 Digital PDF: https://hopeforwarddesign.etsy.com/listing/4547609233/rooted-rising-guided-reflection-journal

🔗 Explore more HOPE Forward resources:
https://linktr.ee/HOPEforward

Here's to staying rooted in what matters most... and continuing to rise, one day at a time.

07/10/2026

If you know me, you know my brain is rarely still.

I always have another idea.

Another project. Another training. Another resource. Another dream...

As soon as I finish one thing, I'm usually thinking about the next.

This week, though, something made me pause.

A few amazing things happened that reminded me of dreams I've carried for a long time. They didn't all come true in the way I imagined, but somehow they became reality anyway.

It made me realize how easy it is to spend so much time chasing what's next that we forget to recognize what we've already accomplished.

Years ago, I imagined spending my career supporting children, families, and educators from within a childcare program. I never imagined my path would expand beyond those walls.

Today, I still get to serve the field I love, just in ways I never expected.

Through writing. Through training. Through speaking. Through encouraging educators across many different programs.

I still have pages of ideas, more goals than I know what to do with, and dreams that are still waiting. Honestly, tomorrow I'll probably add a few more to the list.

But this week reminded me that it's okay to pause.

To be grateful.

To appreciate how far I've come before worrying about how far I still have to go.

To recognize that some of the dreams I once hoped for are no longer just dreams.

I'm still growing. I hope I always will.

But today, I'm allowing myself to feel something I don't always make enough room for:

I'm Proud.

Not because I've arrived.

Not because I've accomplished everything I hope to.

But because, for just a moment, I stopped measuring myself by how far I still have to go... and recognized how far I've already come.

I hope you give yourself permission to do the same.

07/02/2026

Sometimes the things that frustrate us most are the things we need to speak up about. Indiana’s child care crisis is one of those things for me.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve spent a lot of time reviewing Indiana’s proposed child care rule changes, reflecting on what they could mean for children, families, and early childhood educators, and submitting formal public comment.

I’m grateful to share that the Indiana Capital Chronicle published my guest commentary on the issue today.

This piece speaks to why affordability matters, why quality matters just as much, and why lowering standards is not the solution.

You can read the full article here:

Indiana needs to stop trying to make childcare affordable by reducing costs and instead invest in our youngest learners.

06/26/2026

Advocacy is part of the work too.

Today I submitted public comment on Indiana’s proposed child care rule revisions.

Supporting educators doesn’t only happen through coaching, consulting, or training. Sometimes it means speaking up for the systems, standards, and supports that shape this work every day.

The future of early childhood depends on more than passion. It depends on policies that value both children and the people caring for them.

Grateful for the opportunity to add my voice to the conversation.

06/18/2026

Excited to share that Refill. Restore. Rise. has been accepted for another conference this October.

This training was created from a place of deep understanding, what it feels like to keep pouring out until there’s nothing left to give.

So many educators know that feeling.

Refill. Restore. Rise. is a space for honest reflection around burnout, boundaries, capacity, and what it really looks like to care for ourselves while doing deeply demanding work.

Because sustainability in this field matters.
And so do the people carrying it.

I’m grateful for every opportunity to step into these conversations and continue building spaces where educators feel seen, supported, and strengthened.

Looking forward to what’s ahead. 🤍

06/04/2026

Hi, I'm Kristin.

If you're new here, welcome. If we've connected before, I'm glad you're here.

I'm an early childhood educator, consultant, trainer, coach, and author, but at my core, I'm someone who believes that when we support the adults who support children, everyone benefits.

Over the years, I've served as a teacher, director, and now founder of HOPE Forward. Through training, coaching, consulting, and creative resources, my goal is simple: help educators, leaders, and child-focused organizations feel equipped, encouraged, and empowered.

A few things about me:
• Early childhood education is my passion.
• I believe relationships matter.
• I'm a fantasy reader, puzzle lover, board game enthusiast, and proud cat mom.
• My husband is my favorite person.
• I love helping people find practical solutions to complex challenges.
• I believe growth happens when we stay rooted in who we are while continuing to rise toward who we're becoming.

I'd love to get to know you too.

Tell me: What role do you play in the lives of children?