Kristen Hengtgen is Lead II, College and Career Readiness on the P-12 policy team. She focuses on policies and practices that advocate for educational equity and increased access to and success in rigorous, culturally sustaining coursework that prepares students of color and students from low-income backgrounds for college, career, and beyond.
Prior to joining Ed Trust, Kristen worked as senior researcher at the Florida College Access Network, where she collaborated with state partners to promote college access and attainment for all Floridians, and especially first-generation college students, adult learners, and students from low-income backgrounds. She has also worked as an academic advisor at Indiana University.
A native of Detroit, Kristen holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Indiana University-Bloomington, a master’s of Education in History and Philosophy of Education from Indiana University-Bloomington, and bachelor’s degrees in History and Secondary Education from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
Superpower
Deadlifting
Favorite Sports Team
University of Michigan basketball
What drew you to education?
I love history and the teachers who helped me see that history was not about memorizing names and dates but being a detective and puzzle solver. I wanted to be like them. Yet in my student teaching experience, I was shocked by the disparities in resources across schools in metro Detroit. These deep injustices, and reckoning with my own ignorance of them, sparked an interest in understanding more about the history of education policy, to understand how we got to this place, and think through what we can do to generate lasting change.
Author Archives
A Vision for Equitable Pathways: Enhancing Support and Innovation in College and Career Counseling
Pathways help students move from P-12 to college & career more seamlessly. EdTrust & All4Ed report explains the ideal system.
Why Education Equity Should Include Climate Justice
Climate change is a top issue among teachers, students, and parents, which is why Education Equity must include Climate Justice.
Breaking Down the Nation’s Math Scores
2023 NAEP math scores are in and it’s clear students of color were impacted by the pandemic.
Increasing Access to Advanced Coursework in Texas
This brief provides data analyses and a scan of policies and practices in Texas for advocates, educators, and policymakers who are leading the work at the state level to increase access to advanced coursework for Black and Latino students.
Increasing Access to Advanced Coursework in Massachusetts
These resources are designed to help advocates, educators, and policymakers compare best practices and make informed decisions at the state level on advanced coursework for students.
Increasing Access to Advanced Coursework in Kentucky
This brief provides data analyses and a scan of policies and practices for advocates, educators, and policymakers who are leading the work to increase access to advanced coursework for Black and Latino students.
Increasing Access to Advanced Coursework in Washington
This brief provides data analyses and a scan of policies and practices in Washington for advocates, educators, and policymakers who are leading the work at the state level to increase access to advanced coursework for Black and Latino students.
5 State Policy Recommendations Fostering STEM Aspirations for Students of Color in Middle School
Math and science are for everyone. But unfortunately, many students, and especially Black and Latino students, don’t receive that…