Kristin Maum

Senior Specialist, Professional Learning

kmaum@niet.org

Kristin Maum has served as a teacher, Master Teacher, instructional coach, content leader, and instructional designer with a strong track record of improving teaching practice through high-impact professional learning and coaching. She has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Louisiana State University. Her goal has always been to ensure that each and every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

A lifelong learner, Kristin was introduced to NIET while in graduate school when she had the opportunity to visit Donaldsonville High School in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. There, she was able to see NIET best practices in action, and she immediately knew that this was where she wanted to be. That fall, she began as a career teacher at Donaldsonville High School, and through the leadership pipeline, eventually became a TAP Master Teacher. Since then, it has been her dream to bring NIET resources to every teacher, leader, school, and district in the nation.

As a Senior Specialist, Kristin brings a collaborative mindset, a strong coaching lens, and a deep respect for the work of educators. She is passionate about NIET’s mission to ensure educator excellence in every classroom. Kristin is dedicated to helping schools and districts build systems that support excellent instruction, strong leadership, and lasting impact for teachers and students. She believes the best way to support student learning is by supporting educator learning: grow teachers so they can grow students!

Why are you passionate about working at NIET?

As a classroom teacher, I was always inundated with new strategies and educational “buzz words.” My (and my peers’) biggest question was always, “What impact will this have on student learning?” Many times, this question would go unanswered. All of that changed when I started teaching at an NIET TAP school. My pedagogy truly improved and I had hard proof of the impact through my students’ learning. To be clear, yes, their test scores improved tremendously, but that was not the biggest impact. The biggest impact was that they were learning how to think and problem solve rather than how to get the work done quickly or get a good grade. The entire focus was on learning – improved test scores was a byproduct. Having since taught in schools that do not partner with NIET, I, now more than ever, recognize the impact NIET had on not only me, but my students. Learning is always at the forefront for NIET. That’s what makes NIET different.

Who is your favorite teacher?

My favorite teacher in school was my 10th grade English teacher, Ms. Melton, because she never gave up on me. I was not the best student. Since I was 13 and all the way through high
school, I worked a full time job and school was sort of a secondary concern. Ms. Melton would call my house (during holiday breaks and on weekends) when I didn’t turn in my assignments. When we put on an in-class production of Julius Caesar, she let me play Caesar. She recognized that I had a lot going on in my life outside of school, but she never gave up on me. She made me feel known and valued. She was an integral part in my decision to become an English teacher.

What do you do in your free time?

In my free time, I love to spend time with my husband and our son (as well as our two rescue pups). We love to lift weights, cook, spend time at the beach, and take the dogs on hikes. We also love to travel.