Kristine Burke

Special Education Leadership Consultant, Team Chair Mentor, and Professional Learning Facilitator

Kristine Burke brings a wealth of experience in special education leadership, mentoring, and instructional coaching to the Riverside Learning team. As an accomplished Special Education leader, she is passionate about developing confident, knowledgeable, and collaborative special education professionals who positively impact students, families, and school communities. Her work is grounded in a strengths-based leadership approach that empowers educators while promoting compliance, collaboration, and high-quality services for students with disabilities.

At Riverside Learning, Kristine specializes in mentoring and coaching Special Education Team Chairpersons, Coordinators, Facilitators, and emerging special education leaders. Through individualized coaching, small-group mentoring, and customized professional development, she supports educators at every stage of their leadership journey. Her mentoring focuses on building effective case management systems, strengthening leadership capacity, navigating challenging conversations, facilitating successful IEP meetings, and creating productive partnerships with families and multidisciplinary teams.

Kristine also designs and delivers engaging professional learning for special education teachers, related service providers, and paraprofessionals. Her workshops emphasize practical strategies that educators can immediately implement to improve student outcomes while ensuring compliance with federal and Massachusetts special education regulations. Training topics include:

• Team Chairperson Leadership Development

• Case Management and IEP Compliance

• High-Quality IEP Development and Progress Monitoring

• Special Education Procedures and Timelines

• Disability Categories and Eligibility Determination

• Facilitating Collaborative and Productive IEP Meetings

• Effective Communication with Families

• Coaching and Evaluating Special Education Staff

• Building Strong Partnerships Between General and Special Education

• Best Practices for Supporting Paraprofessionals

• Professional Learning for Paraprofessionals to Strengthen Student Support and Inclusive Practices

Kristine holds a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) in Educational Leadership from Northeastern University, a Master of Education in Special Education from Bridgewater State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders from Bridgewater State University. She is licensed as a Special Education Administrator in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Through Riverside Learning, Kristine is committed to helping school districts build stronger special education systems by investing in the people who lead and support them. Whether mentoring a first-year Team Chairperson, coaching experienced special education leaders, or providing professional learning for teachers and paraprofessionals, her goal is to strengthen professional practice, improve collaboration, and ensure every student receives the high-quality educational experience they deserve.

Are you interested in bringing Kristine Burke to your district?  Let us know!