More About Our Founder

Kristina's areas of expertise include:​​​​​​

• Precision Teaching

• Applied Behavior Analysis

• Applied Verbal Behavior

• Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• PEAK Curriculum

• Social/Emotional Learning & Trauma-Informed Education

• Early Childhood Education & Child Development

• Play Therapy

• Parent-Child Interactive Therapy

• Infant/Family Mental Health - trauma-informed

• Transition Services

• Evidence-based Practice

• Special Education practice

• Special Education Law (IDEA)​

• Parenting styles and theories

• PAX science-based kernels

• Assistive Technology

Kristina's knowledge of disabilities ​​include:

• Dyslexia & other Learning Disabilities

• Autism

• Speech & Language Impairment

• Executive Functioning/ADHD

• Emotional Disabilities (Mood disorders, PTSD, RAD, ODD, Personality Disorders, etc.)

• PANDAS/PANS

• Tourette's Syndrome

• Social Communication Disorder

• Genetic conditions

• Brain Injury

• Auditory Processing Disorder

• Hearing/Vision Impairment

Kristina was motivated to seek out knowledge and training in science-based, research-proven, effective programs, principles, and practices for children with learning differences after her personal experience with the special education and general education system as a parent of children with disabilities. She tirelessly and eagerly completed thousands of hours of training in evidence-based programs to better understand learning science and Special Education laws.

Kristina is trained in the Science of Reading (SoR) as a Structured Literacy Teacher with specialized training in Orton-Gillingham based reading programs including Lindamood-Bell programs (LiPS, Seeing Stars, Visualizing & Verbalizing), Wilson Reading programs (WRS, Just Words), Spell Links, and Barton reading program. She has additional training in Social Thinking(TM), Handwriting without Tears, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (training), Person-Centered Planning, Relational Frame Theory, several ABA-based programs, Cogmed, Collaborative Problem Solving, Precision Teaching, Play Therapy, Trauma-informed care trained by the Harris Institute, and several programs from PAXIS Institute (a social/emotional, trauma-informed training organization).

Using her training, Kristina provided special education consulting and advocacy to families across Arizona, Utah, and other southern states for over 10 years and remains dedicated to supporting parents through the journey of special education. She remains actively involved in the education, disability, and early learning communities and stays current in the field as a member of the following industry-related associations: (1) Council for Exceptional Children (CEC); (2) AZ Association of Behavior Analysts (AzABA); (3) Association of Behavior Analysts International (ABAI); (4) Association of Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS); (5) International Dyslexia Association (IDA).
Kristina participates in the AzABA "ABA in Schools" special interest group to bring awareness and action in the area of Education. Kristina was appointed to the ADE Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP) from 2013-2022 to address the unmet needs of learners with disabilities and their families. She also served for four years as a Board Member for the Arizona Food Allergy Alliance & on the Board of Directors for the AZ Branch of International Dyslexia Association (IDA). Kristina serves on other various committees, task forces, and groups when they are related to meeting the needs of students and students with disabilities, and will continue to do so as long as there is a need.
The 30+ years of experience in the fields of Early Education, Early Intervention, and Mental Health allows Kristina to bring her expertise to the Breakthrough Academy community. She has worked with the Parent Training Information Center for the state of Arizona (Raising Special Kids), as a Disability Specialist for Early Head Start, an Education Curriculum Specialist for Head Start, and a Mental Health Consultant for First Things First. 
Kristina has many years of first-hand experience advocating for and obtaining appropriate, effective special education services for four of her five children whom have various special needs including Bipolar Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety disorder, Dyslexia, Hyperlexia, Dysgraphia (learning disability in writing), and Dyscalculia (learning disability in Mathematics), Tourette's Syndrome, ADHD (Executive Function Disorder), OCD associated with PANDAS/PANS, post-concussive syndrome, and severe food allergies.

Kristina four youngest children attended Breakthrough Academy to address their various needs and achieved their educational breakthroughs. Her experience with her children’s educational journeys is the reason why she founded Breakthrough Academy, but your children are the reasons why she continues.