As principal of a Brookfield, Illinois elementary school, Tara Kristoff draws upon more than a decade of experience across various educational positions to create programming and ensure academic success for more than 600 students. Since becoming principal of the school, Tara Kristoff has made inclusive curriculum changes, created emotional and social learning opportunities for both students and teachers, and partnered with Big Rig Books, which provides reading material for students at a low cost.
A strong proponent of reading as an academic pursuit, Tara Kristoff was chosen as the Illinois Reads! ambassador for the Illinois Library Association in 2014. She is also an acclaimed guest speaker who specializes in methods which administrators can employ to incorporate Next Generation Science Standards with English language arts concepts promoted by the Common Core State Standards. In the past, she has spoken at the Northwestern University STEM Conference and Raising Student Achievement Conference, among others.
In addition to her role as principal, Ms. Kristoff is an area foundational coordinator for science at the Intermediate Service Center and previously taught science, reading, and mathematics to academically advanced students in the Riverside School District. She is pursuing a PhD in educational leadership at the University of Illinois and holds a master's degree in the subject from Aurora University.