Kristen Hayes is an independent management consultant, supporting organizations with the management of federal and state grant-funded programs that provide critical education, health, and family support services. Her clients include more than 140 Head Start grantee agencies, state associations, and regional associations and she has trained more than 400 Head Start programs. Kristen consults on organizational and operational design, strategic planning, and outcomes measurement. Since 2011, as a competitive grant planner and writer, she has secured more than $350 million in funding for both incumbent and non-incumbent applicants. In addition to her work with Head Start, Kristen has served as a school redesign change management coach for public schools in Massachusetts and as a technical expert for an early childhood research institution. Prior to consulting, Kristen was a Senior Program Specialist with the Office of Head Start - Region 9, and a Policy Analyst at the U.S. Department of Education.

Kristen holds a Masters of Public Management in Social Policy from the University of Maryland at College Park, and Certificate in Data Analytics from Cornell University. She has completed continuing education at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education in both family engagement and data analysis.