| Kristin's Experience: Dr. Kristin L. McGraner believes all children have a right to a high-quality, college preparatory education and has dedicated herself to this mission. She began her career as a high school teacher in a Memphis-area school that served the highest population of students in foster care in the county. Upon completion of her Master of Arts degree in teaching, she joined the Department of Education at Christian Brothers University (CBU). During her tenure at CBU, she led program evaluation and curricular improvement initiatives, taught in the teacher education and principal preparation programs, and participated in evaluations of STEM-related programs with Shelby County Schools and Memphis City Schools. Dr. McGraner moved to Nashville to complete her doctoral program in Educational Leadership and Policy at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College of Education and Human Development.Dr. McGraner has served as the founding director of the Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching program for which she co-wrote the successful proposal to bring the inaugural Distinguished Fulbright Awards program to Peabody College and Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. Additionally, she serves on research faculty in Peabody's Department of Leadership, Policy and Organizations, and directs a study of middle school math teacher professional development funded by the National Science Foundation. Dr. McGraner serves as a research associate with the National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality, a collaboration among Vanderbilt University, Learning Point Associates and the Educational Testing Service.Dr. McGraner has worked in partnership with Nashville's community leaders, higher education institutions, and community organizations to develop STEM Preparatory Academy. |
