Ms. Kristi Messer

Kristi Messer has been advocating for young people for more 15 years. Kristi completed her Masters in Social Work and Masters in Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and has her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As a social worker, she worked closely with young people diagnosed with externalizing disorders (e.g., ADHD, Conduct Disorder), as well as those impacted by learning disabilities. Kristi spent a number of years working in hospital-based settings specializing in issues specific to mental health. In addition, as a Public Health Professional, Kristi spent significant time developing and overseeing a myriad of programs and services designed to meet the needs of underserved children and families. Kristi is a former high school resource teacher who specialized with students diagnosed with learning disabilities, as well as students pursuing a certificate of completion. For a number of years, Kristi taught part-time at Montgomery College in the GT Youth Program, in addition to directing a summer sports program for girls. On a personal note, Kristi has three children in Montgomery County Public Schools, including a daughter with special needs. Kristi's passion for helping youth receive the educational and support services they need does not stop with her daughter, but extend well beyond to advocating for every student who crosses her path.

Since joining the Weinfeld Education Group, Kristi has advocated for students enrolled in Learning for Independence (LFI) programs, Learning Centers, and regular-education settings. Kristi has helped a number of young people transition from private to public placements, and has successfully advocated for alternative placements (non-home school) for students whose needs were not being met at their assigned school placement. Given Kristi's strong behavioral and mental health background, she often works with students who have needs in the areas of executive functioning, organization, and externalizing or internalizing disorders.