Suggestions
Kristin McGraner
Driving results for children with disabilities and the systems serving them.
Kristin McGraner is the Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Thrive Therapies Group, dedicated to transforming healthcare in schools and enhancing the educational experiences of differently-abled children. With a focus on providing special education and health services integrated with innovative technology and data-driven insights, Kristin and her team aim to empower educators, clinicians, and leaders with actionable information to deliver effective therapies and interventions, fostering a more inclusive learning environment for all students. Kristin holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education from Christian Brothers University. Her rich professional background includes roles as a Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Thrive Therapies Group, Founder and CEO of STEM Preparatory Academy, Project Director and Research Faculty at Vanderbilt University, Instructor of Education and Program Manager at Christian Brothers University, and experience as a Teacher, Department Chair, and New Teacher Mentor at Shelby County Schools.
Highlights
In Texas, students w/ disabilities have a 50-50 shot of being taught by a trained specialist (about 25% chance in high school). Not on our watch. We had an inspiring, joyful, and pace-setting session with a group of true specialists yesterday in Dallas.
Thrive Therapies Group is now working with over 2,000 applications to serve students with disabilities in our partner communities, 100 percent of which are historically under-resourced. I have unbounded optimism that we do, in fact, have talent in this country to serve our students. It's how we're responding to the call that deserves attention.
(Props to Stefanie Bundy for bringing out the best in all of us. Props to my partner-in-good Liz Malugen for making hard work look easy and over-ordering food.)
Pinch me. Photo from 5:00am this morning at Nashville International Airport - BNA, 8th & Roast (coffee). These women had that line moving, every move was excellent and efficient, a beautiful concert of warmth, purpose, and urgency.
I. Was. Beaming. To be in their presence is a gift.
I learned this when they were my students STEM Preparatory Academy, the school community I founded in 2010. So much history, and wow did we zoom and facetime our way through the pandemic.
I'm so proud. Both of these women are college students, majoring in biochem and information systems respectively. Pulling the 5am shift so they can attend classes and do all the things they do for their families.
I can't wait to see what they'll do in and for this world.
Oh and of course I made a pitch for us to work together at Thrive Therapies Group. 😊 I look forward to competing with you all for their talent.
