Look beneath the surface and build better together.
Educational coaching, professional learning, and consulting rooted in equity, reflection, and sustainable change.
Meaningful change doesn't happen in isolation.
It happens in community—in the relationships we build, the questions we are willing to ask, the assumptions we are willing to examine, and the practices we are willing to change.
At kit(h) & kin, I work alongside educators, teams, schools, and districts to look beneath the surface of educational challenges and build more equitable, sustainable practices together.
Why kit(h) & kin?
‘Kith and kin’ is a somewhat antiquated term for friends and family- the people who make up our support circle.
I chose the name because I believe meaningful change cannot occur without this network. The work of tikkun olam (תִּיקּוּן עוֹלָם)—repairing and healing the world—cannot be done in isolation. We need one another to learn, reflect, challenge our assumptions, repair harm, commiserate, and imagine what could be different.
And within kit(h) & kin is kit, the name for a baby beaver. Beavers are builders. They work collectively, reshape their environments, and create conditions that support an entire ecosystem. And their work reminds us of something important:
There is a lot more happening beneath the surface than meets the eye.
A dam isn't simply what we see above the water. Its strength depends on the structures underneath it.
Education works much the same way.
What we see—student outcomes, classroom behaviors, engagement, achievement—is connected to what lies beneath: relationships, beliefs, expectations, structures, systems, and everyday practices.
That's where I want to work.
Beneath the surface.
What People Are Saying
"I am a science teacher and wanted to start creating an anti-racist curriculum, but wasn't sure exactly where or how to start. Kate helped me to outline discrete and actionable steps I can take to incorporate anti-racism into my lessons. But I realized during our conversation that I needed more- particularly, I worried that my students would feel disengaged or hurt by my efforts. Kate helped me understand that I needed to first build my relationship with students so the conversations we have around inequities can be valuable to them, rather than a burden. She explained different methods for building relationships and some ways I could start and end a unit on healthcare inequities to keep students invested. Best of all, I left the session with a feeling of hope that I can actually teach the antiracist curriculum to students and get them invested in their own learning- which is a feeling that money can't buy you. Thanks Kate!"
— Kristen R
“Kathryn’s patient guidance and passion for social justice has helped me grow immensely as a professional. An excellent listener, she helps people feel heard, allowing those she works with to feel comfortable and supported while tackling challenging and important work.”
— Kelly W
“She challenged me to think about how I can make my classroom a learning space that integrated the cultures and interests of my students. We read Pedagogy of the Oppressed, which encouraged me to consider fundamental questions about education- who it is for and what we seek to accomplish as educators and learners. These are the kinds of questions that I think all thoughtful educators should be asking themselves, and I'm glad that Kate made it a priority.”
— Evan M
“Kathryn has been a really helpful resource in my journey to understand what I can do with my privilege and power to help. She taught me that rest and recovery can be some of the bravest acts of resistance and that self-care and love are the foundations of a more just society […] She has inspired me to really consider what it means to build community, be vulnerable, and do the work of creating a more inclusive culture in my workplace.”
—Heather B.
