Kirsten vividly remembers the day her life was changed forever. At six years old, she got off the school bus to discover a line of police cars in front of her house. Officers at the door instructed her to go to her room and pack her belongings. Over the next eleven years, Kirsten was shuffled through more than 120 foster placements, attending countless schools as she navigated her new reality filled with uncertainty and upheaval.

From the start, Kirsten’s chances of receiving a consistent education were shattered by the impact of family trauma, including separation from her siblings.

“On top of the changes and the trauma, school definitely got put on the back burner,” said Addison McColloch, one of Kirsten’s former case managers. “There were times she wasn’t in school for months because she didn’t have a stable placement, and the schools weren’t always equipped to handle her needs.”

By early high school, Kirsten began acting out, leading to time spent in and out of the Juvenile Detention Center. In 2022, she was relocated to Wichita, a move intended to distance her from difficult peer relationships and connect her with better placement options. What seemed like a hopeless situation for Kirsten turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

In Wichita, Kirsten was placed with a family that connected well with her. They helped her enroll in a strong school district for her junior year, where she received an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and joined the special education classroom. Although Kirsten initially resisted being in a SPED classroom, feeling “called out,” it was there that she met Ms. Lehning and Ms. Jenning, who gave Kirsten the one-on-one attention she needed to thrive.

“I love Ms. Lehning,” said Kirsten. “She’s a sweetheart. She’s the person I would go to if I had a bad day, and she would sit there and talk with me.” Kirsten also developed a close bond with her art teacher, Ms. Frakes.

When Kirsten was finally given the option to return to a regular classroom after months of progress, she didn’t want to go back.

Kirsten holding her GPA award

“Kirsten got to be a mentor to some of those kids – whether they were higher needs or needed help with assignments,” said Addison. “She is very caring and empathetic, and got to shine and use her strengths and compassion to help others.”

By the end of junior year, Kirsten had achieved a significant milestone: she finished her first full year in one school, and her grades were better than ever. She was even invited to attend an honors ceremony at a local university for achieving a GPA of 3.5 or higher. As a result, she got to tour the college campus, talk with different departments, and was recognized with a distinguished award.

“It felt really great because I accomplished something,” said Kirsten.

This fall, Kirsten will start her senior year of high school at Rocket Online School, with a projected graduation date of December 2025. She believes the online setting will help her stay focused and free from distractions and negative influences that have affected her in the traditional school environment. After talking things through with her caseworker, they decided this was the best plan.

“I told her, ‘Show me you can be motivated and get things done,’ and she did,” said Addison.

While completing her online studies, Kirsten will be supported by her foster family, who will help her create a schedule that works best for her. When things get challenging, Kirsten knows she can rely on her coping skills, positive self-talk, and her support system, including Ms. Lehning and her caseworker.

When asked what she’s most looking forward to about her senior year, Kirsten’s answer was simple: graduation.

“My mom never did it; my dad didn’t do it,” said Kirsten. “I’m excited. My goal is to finish school and get good grades and move back to Kansas City and live with my auntie.”

Kirsten’s academic pursuits don’t just end with high school graduation either. She hopes to attend college and become a social worker, using her personal experience to help other kids in the foster care system.

“She always says she knows what they’re going through and can help them,” said Addison. “She’s pretty amazing. All the odds that she’s beaten, and she’s still motivated. She doesn’t throw herself a pity party or use her trauma as an excuse; she uses it to motivate herself. I’m super proud of her.”