Born and raised in California, Katie Crosbie has been connecting with and learning from young people since she first volunteered in a kindergarten classroom nearly three decades ago. An avid reader, she always felt at home in elementary school. Yet as her experiences with young people deepened, she came to recognize that many students experience disconnection and a lack of belonging within the schooling system. Since becoming an elementary classroom teacher over 20 years ago, she has viewed building a classroom community grounded in shared laughter, love, and belonging as her first and most important responsibility.
Katie now serves as a Language Arts Specialist supporting the most vulnerable kinder through 2nd graders by providing early intervention. She also works alongside her colleagues to build collective capacity and strengthen Tier I reading instruction through literacy coaching. Additionally, Katie serves as a Teacher Leader with the California Reading and Literacy Project, supporting educators in refining their approach to English Language Development. Throughout her career as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and language arts specialist, Katie has remained deeply committed to cultivating inclusive, joyful learning communities where both students and educators feel a strong sense of belonging. Whether working directly with young learners, providing early intervention for struggling readers, or partnering with colleagues to strengthen instruction, she approaches her work with intentionality, collaboration, and an unwavering belief in every learner’s potential. And no matter the audience, her efforts are almost always accompanied by a generous dose of dancing and several corny jokes.
