Collaborations

Heliotrope is an example of a consulting firm that is presently a client and continues to draw upon KLMayer's resources.

Heliotrope

Kristina co-consulted with this Seattle-based consulting firm (Website) on two recent projects:

She was the content advisor and developed the comprehensive strategy and the evaluation strategies for Re-Investing In Youth, a drop-out reduction initiative that focuses on ways to re-engage kids, especially kids of color, in the educational system. The initiative was a collaborative of juvenile justice groups, municipal leaders, county executives and educators in the City of Seattle/King Co., and the Casey Family Foundation. Kristina coauthored the final report, "Educating All Our Children: A Comprehensive Plan for Reducing the Drop-out Rate in King County."

Kristina helped with the strategic planning process for Powerful Schools, a nonprofit based in Southeast Seattle that was formed in 1991 to promote student success in some of the city's academically and economically challenged public elementary schools. Some of their programs are Powerful Writers, Powerful Readers and Powerful Arts. Website.

King County Housing Authority Education Outcomes Initiative

Dr. Mayer is collaborating with Nancy Ashley of Heliotrope to engage with community partners in the East Hill of Kent, Washington, to increase the academic performance of students who live in Housing Authority properties. In this process, KLMayer is working with the Kent School District and KCHA to understand how students in public housing are performing, where help is needed and what strategies would meet the shared goals of the District and the Housing Authority. Community partners are providing guidance and data related to current and future services that families and students currently use or may avail themselves of in the future. Specific investigations into school readiness, academic achievement gaps and dropout reduction are a part of the overall situation analysis. The final products will include recommendations for improved outcomes and potential funding sources.