We recently connected with Kristina Sterling and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristina, thanks for joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

When I first decided that I wanted to start working as a consultant in the field of education it really stemmed from the fact that I was going to these conferences and I was presenting and sharing knowledge that I thought was baseline and it was just not. I was like I want to be in a position to share this knowledge which will help our students but also get paid for it. So because of the line of work and it being consulting it was a slow process in formalizing the business. I really kept it very informal at first. I probably did it all types of backwards and not the most convenient way, but it was the way that worked for me. I started just with my inner circle and getting referrals from people that I know. Reality is I didn’t do my formal LLC until later on. That’s when I created the business email, updated website, which I am still working on. Right now, it is more a portfolio of my work so that people know what I can provide. Then when I was like let’s do this do this, we had a pandemic which really hurt the ability to network and go to school districts and really gain traction. I was fortunate that I have an old colleague that started a business and they reached out to me to do their professional developments around social emotional learning and there is potential that I will work with more schools through that partnership. As it stands, I am just feeling very blessed that I am continuing to be able to do this work and continuing to be able to share knowledge and build the toolbox with our educators in the classroom.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

So, I have worked in the field of education for over a decade at this point. I ended up in education because I finished my bachelor’s when there was no jobs and substituting was easy way to make some money. It’s amazing how life will throw you curveballs but then sets you on your path because I just really fell in love with education. I enjoyed the students I enjoyed the teaching I enjoy just being at the front lines. It all came from the substituting. I became a math interventionist for the same school after I completed a long-term sub position. It was at the school that I was substituting. As a math interventionist, I was working very closely with a specific teacher, and I was able to see him at work. He was awesome. He was absolutely awesome, he built solid relationships with the student he would basically be what I would call a very solid example of warm demander, which is one of the teacher types. I also had an opportunity to see the other side of it because he had students that receive special education services and I remember watching the person who was supposed to provide the services and thinking, if this was my child it would not be ok. They were not providing the support that they should’ve been providing so right they’re the mama bear in me clicked on and I was like oh this is not going to work. How can I help support the students who are not getting what they’re supposed to get? That is how I went from just math to special education math. Then as I just grew in my practice and learned more, I transitioned into more leadership roles and I am here today.

Today as a consultant and as a professor I teach and train current teachers and pre-service teachers around culturally responsive pedagogy, differentiation techniques, inclusive classroom practices, and building classrooms that invite the whole child into the room and value them the way they should be valued.

I think what sets me apart from others is passion for the work. I believe that we must fight for our kids and the education system as it stands was not meant for all children to be successful. In order for us to combat a system that’s not changing we must put highly qualified well-trained teachers who understand the value in cultural differences, learning differences, and understand that our kids come to the classroom with experiences no matter what the age. They have life experience, and we have to be able to create a safe space for both the positive experiences and the negative experiences to allow them the opportunity to receive a high-quality education. That’s what the training I provide does.

I am most proud of the work that I do with pre-service teachers. It is so important that we are putting new teachers in the classroom, diverse teachers in the classroom, but also teachers that understand how to value our children at a level that has never happened before.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients is definitely my circle education as big as it is, it is also small. Honestly, I feel in any industry your circle is going to be your best friend because they know somebody, who might know of somebody who needs your services. So I will say all day the best source for new clients and business is going to be your network. Until I was doing this work as a consultant, I did not realize how important networking really is.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I decided to make my business a real thing right before everything shut down. I really thought about just stopping and focusing only on my full-time job. However, when you love something and when you have a passion for it you just don’t put it down. Business is hard and and when it is your business it is emotions because it is your blood, sweat, and tears. So instead I gave myself a pep talk and made a decision to just embrace the virtual life.I did virtual meetings and virtual conferences to maintain my presence in the field. Now that we are moving to more face-to-face I am excited to be able to get in front of teachers and classrooms again in person, sometimes you just have to be creative..

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kcsedconsulting84.wixsite.com/website
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-sterling-ed-d-44552094/