Kristina Ishmael
U.S. Department of Education
Austin, TX USA
"Life is short—you’ve got to go where you want to go."
Career Roadmap
Kristina's work combines: Education, Government, and Accomplishing Goals
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Business and Mass Communications
Arizona State University
Bachelor's Degree
Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education
Peru State College
Graduate Degree
Reading and ESL
Concordia University, Nebraska
Graduate Degree
Instructional Technology
Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in business and mass communications from Arizona State University.
2.
I moved to Omaha, Nebraska, and had my first interview for business in the private sector, during which I had a massive panic attack—my body was telling me that I was not where I needed to be.
3.
I decided to pivot and found a post-baccalaureate program where I pursued early childhood education and elementary education.
4.
After graduating, I worked as a classroom teacher and then transitioned to the state level, where I worked as a state ed tech director for the state of Nebraska.
5.
In 2016, I moved to Washington D.C. to work at the federal level as a fellow, supporting states and school districts as they moved away from traditional materials and into open education resources.
6.
I spent a little bit of time working in the nonprofit sector but knew I wanted to go back into the administration.
7.
In 2021, I rejoined the U.S. Department of Education and am currently leading the Office of Education Technology.
Defining Moments
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I've struggled with anxiety and depression. I also lost my father after high school, which contributed to my struggles with mental health. I now speak openly about those struggles in order to help others.