Kristen Braun
Mount Desert Elementary School
Ellsworth,ME
1
Certification
2027
years of professional experience
Dedicated and visionary Educator with over 20 years of experience championing academic excellence, inclusive leadership, and evidence-based instruction. Proven efficacy with classroom management, as well as successful advocacy for student equity and teacher empowerment. Currently advancing specialized expertise as a PhD student at the University of Maine, researching the critical impact of fine motor skills on reading proficiency in primary students, with a specific focus on learners with high-incidence disabilities. Combines mastery of the Science of Reading with actionable leadership to cultivate high-achieving, supportive educational environments.
Work History
Grade One Teacher
- Plan, teach, and assess daily reading, mathematics, and writing lessons via workshop models anchored in evidenced-based programming
- Provide students enriching place and project based opportunities in volunteerism, science, technology, and social studies
- Administer formative and summative assessments. Increase student achievement by using assessment data to inform instruction
- Foster communication with parents through a variety of means, including newsletters, report cards, and conferences
- Establish learning environments conducive to a variety of learning needs by developing effective classroom management systems
- Prioritize daily social-emotional learning exercises
- Collaborate with parents, interventionists, and administrators to offer students RTI opportunities and refer students for Title I and/or special education services, when needed
- Engage in on-going professional development and regular staff meetings
- Maximize annual budget and purchase orders to benefit student experiences
Grade One Teacher
K-4 Special Education Teacher
- Planned, administered, and assessed daily specially designed instruction lessons for students with IEPs
- Used formative and summative assessment data to guide instruction
- Developed and implemented behavior intervention plans
- Scheduled and led IEP team meetings
- Administered diagnostic academic evaluations and submitted evaluation reports for IEP team review
- Administered standardized tests and ensured testing accommodations were honored
- Maintained electronic and paper special education files. Submitted documentation to parents within MDOE timeframes
- Determined paraprofessionals’ assignments and schedules. Supervised and evaluated paraprofessionals
- Participated in on-going professional development through teacher in-service, committee work, and graduate study
- Completed annual K-4 special education budget and purchase orders
K-4 Special Education Teacher
3 YearsExtended School Year (ESY) Teacher
2 MonthsEd Tech III
1 YearAt-home Mom to Wyatt and Hayden Braun
8 YearsLiteracy Tutor
1 YearMiddle Level ELA Teacher
4 YearsSummer School Teacher
Grade Four Teacher
2 YearsSubstitute Teacher
Education
Educational PhD - Special Education: High Incidence Disabilities
Master’s Degree - Special Education: High Incidence Disabilities
GPA: 3.9/4.0
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
- Area of Concentration: English
- High Distinction graduate, December 1995
- GPA: 3.4/4.0
Skills
Literacy: LETRS 2026
Fundations 2015
First For ME 2024
Science of Reading 2022-present
Teachers College Reading and Writing Project 2020
SPIRE 2013
Maine Assessment Portfolio Project 1999-2001
John Collins Writing Seminar 2001
Rebecca Sitton spelling instruction 1999
Math: All Learners Network 2020-2022
Investigations 2023
Stepping Stones 2016
Everyday Mathematics 2003
Investigations 2000
Equity: First for ME 2024
Pilot Persona Dolls committee 2019-2020
Anti-Racism task force 2020
Inclusion Response to Intervention committee 2015-2016
MDOE Aligning IEP Goals to CCSS 2013-2014
MDOE PAAP 2011
Student Assistance Team 2000
Behavior: Safety Care 2015-2016
MANDT 2011-13
PBIS 2011
Bill Jensen's Working with Tough Kids 1999
Training Colleagues: Presented at MADSEC conference 2025
Provided Fundations training for MDES K-3 teachers 2024
Mentor Teacher 2018-present
AOS 91 Mentor Teacher Training 2018
Certification
- Hancock County Teacher of the Year finalist, 2022 and 2023
- Professional K-8 general elementary teaching certification (state of Maine)
- Professional K-8 special education teaching certification (state of Maine)
- Member of National Education Association, Maine Education Association, and Mount Desert Island Education Association
- Pi Lambda Theta, 2017-present
- Kappa Delta Pi, 1995
- Friends of Acadia, 2016-present
- Safety Care certified 2015-16, MANDT certified 2011-13, Crisis Prevention Intervention certified 1998
Timeline
Extended School Year (ESY) Teacher
Ellsworth Elementary School
06.2011 - 08.2011Read More
K-4 Special Education Teacher
Hancock Grammar School
01.2011 - 01.2014Read More
Ed Tech III
Cave Hill, Mountain View, and Ellsworth High Schools
01.2010 - 01.2011Read More
At-home Mom to Wyatt and Hayden Braun
Braun family residence
01.2002 - 01.2010Read More
Literacy Tutor
Dr. Lewis S. Libby School
01.2001 - 01.2002Read More
Middle Level ELA Teacher
Dr. Lewis S. Libby School
01.1998 - 01.2002Read More
Summer School Teacher
Bangor School Department
01.1998 - 01.1998Read More
Grade Four Teacher
Helen S. Dunn School
01.1996 - 01.1998Read More
Grade One Teacher
Mount Desert Elementary School
2023 - CurrentRead More
Grade One Teacher
Trenton Elementary School
2016 - 2023Read More
K-4 Special Education Teacher
Trenton Elementary School
2014 - 2016Read More
Substitute Teacher
Penobscot County schools
1996 - 1996Read More
University of Maine
Educational PhD from Special Education: High Incidence Disabilities
Read More
University of Maine
Master’s Degree from Special Education: High Incidence Disabilities
Read More
University of Maine
Bachelor of Science from Elementary Education
Read More
Community Connections
- Mount Desert Island Education Association: raised funds for Open Table and the Bar Harbor Food Pantry, 2022
- Awarded Perloff Family Foundation grant for six bee-bots (coding) and one 3-D printer, 2017
- Piloted Keva Contraptions for Perloff Family Foundation, 2022
- Partnered with the Hancock County SPCA, 2017-19
- Attend Acadia National Park ranger-led programs with students annually
- Participated in Bar Harbor Garden Club’s annual poetry contest. 2017-2025
- Parterned with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), 2018-2022
- Partnered with Maine Outdoor Classroom, 2020-22
Leadership Roles
- New England District-Community Consortium, June 2026-present
- MDES primary team leader, 2025-present
- MDIRSS grade one common study leader, Fall 2023-present
- Represented District B on the Maine Education Association Board of Directors, July 2023-June 2024
- Executive committee member for Mount Desert Island Educators Association, 2022-present
- Member of TES MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports) Leadership Team, 2022-2023
- Member of AOS91 PEPG (Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth) committee, 2022-2023
- Campaign Action Team member, 2022
- Member of the MDIRSS teacher negotiations team for the 2019-2021 and 2024-2026 contract cycles
- Mentor teacher for AOS 91, 2018-present
Coaching and Officiating
Varsity Cheer Coach, 1994-2001
Old Town High School - Old Town, ME
- planned practices throughout fall and winter sports seasons
- Choreographed and taught competition routines. State champions, 1999 and 2000
- Conducted parent meetings, communicated with members of the press, organized fund-raising activities, and attended summer camp annually
Cheer Official, 2010-2015
Maine Principals Association - Augusta, ME
- Scored competition cheer teams on various skills at meets held throughout Maine