Bio
Kristen is a former early childhood education and care provider and program specialist, with expertise in training development, curriculum oversight, and collaborative program management in private and military child care sectors. As a young professional, she developed and supported multiple state-level advocacy and coordinating initiatives aimed at improving early care and education (ECE) systems, program quality, funding, and family and ECE workforce supports. Seeking to expand her reach, she completed graduate training at The American University, earning a Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) with a social policy concentration. She launched her career as a researcher focused on national indicators of child and youth well-being, then navigated into technical assistance spaces focused on promoting positive conditions for learning in school age programs, and then returned back to her true passion – early childhood development systems and supports. Kristen Darling blends her background as an early childhood practitioner with her passion for and knowledge of social and emotional development, child-adult relationships, child care quality, and school climate and discipline. Kristen specializes in social-emotional learning and measurement for adults and children, relationship-based competencies to support families, transitions to kindergarten, school-age student support and academic enrichment, needs assessment, and policies and programs that prevent risks and support optimal child development.
