About Us
Smekens Education Solutions, Inc. is a leading provider of staff development and professional resources to K-12 schools in Indiana, Illinois, and the Midwest. Specializing in the areas of reading and writing, our training team is best known for showing teachers how to apply research-based literacy strategies in ways that are practical and effective.
Our online bookstore, The Literacy Store, features thousands of titles, including professional books, children's books, classroom decorations, games, and more.
Contact Brady Smekens, Director of Professional Development, to find out how Smekens Education can customize solutions for your school or district.
Training Team |
Support Team |
 Kristina Smekens Kristina is a highly sought after speaker and author who works with K-12 teachers sharing practical strategies for teaching writing, reading comprehension, and vocabulary development. She is a certified 6-Traits trainer and author of several books, including Launching the Writer's Workshop, The Trait Mate; 6-Traits Starter Lessons, and the Writing Parent Pack. Her presentations have helped to motivate teachers for more than 10 years. |
 Brady Smekens -- Director of Professional Development Brady brings more than a decade of experience as a teacher and administrator to his role as Director of Professional Development for Smekens Education. Email Brady |
 Courtney Gordon Courtney taps into her own classroom experience as a middle school language arts teacher as she guides K-12 teachers toward effective instruction in reading and writing. She has presented to schools and districts throughout the Midwest and Canada where she has helped teachers apply research-based strategies in the classroom. |
 Liz Shockey -- Literary Specialist A diverse background in education and publishing helps Liz assist teachers at every level. She oversees the Idea Library and assists our consultants with research and development of new ideas. Email Liz |
 Kristi McCullough Kristi wore many hats in public schools for 13 years before joining Smekens Education full time. Her training as a Reading RecoveryŽ teacher and Literacy Coordinator allows Kristi to offer classroom teachers practical ideas that are rooted in research. Kristi is passionate about helping teachers implement a balanced literacy approach focused on real-life, purposeful literacy activities that result in improved student achievement. |
 Lisa Leas -- Workshop Registration Coordinator If you call Smekens Education, chances are you'll talk to Lisa. She's on the front lines helping customers with workshop registration, Purdue graduate credit, and more. Email Lisa |
 Courtney Minniear -- The Literacy Store Coordinator When it comes to books and other classroom resources, Courtney is your go-to gal. Aside from managing the online bookstore, she also assists customers with custom title searches, specialized school quotes, and more. Email Courtney |
