Erika Kalgren

Background

About Erika Kalgren

Over the years, my students, in both secondary and higher education, have taught me numerous life lessons. The three biggest lessons, and perhaps most important, are those of Resilience, Innovation, and Connection. • By developing resilience in my students, I remove barriers to success. I’ve worked with many students who come to me with a history of trauma. These students have shown me what it takes to persevere and the power of a growth mindset. They show me not only resilience, but how to foster the growth of resilience through thoughts, behaviors, and actions. • Innovation is important to resilience. I’ve heard some of the most ingenious stories from my students and their families; stories of innovation where they make the most out of the resources they have access to. By encouraging innovation, I help students see possibilities they may not have seen before. • Connection is everything. Without connection, there is little motivation for a student to be resilient, innovate, or learn in a classroom. By connecting with my students, I am able to help them value the lessons teachers and others share with them. By helping my students feel connected, to themselves and their communities local and global, I help them find purpose and motivation. With my varied background from engineering to developing emotional intelligence with teams at Binghamton University to serving at risk youth, I am versatile and adaptable – resilient and innovative. Most importantly, though, I am connected to the work I do. Please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or email: elkalgren@gmail.com