About Us

Alliance for Innovative Education

Meet the team behind AIE: a passionate group of educators, content creators, parents, and learning technologists dedicated to helping students thrive. Our founders bring decades of experience in child development and instructional leadership, while our content creators (students) engage in real world experience through crafting research-based content.

Hover for more information or to contact an individual team member.

Kristin Makena, CEO

Kristin is a Licensed Educational Psychologist (CA #3575) who has worked as an Administrator, Professor, and Researcher who has worked in the fields of psychology and education for the last 20 years. Her doctoral research resulted in a substantive theory on the transformational process of change. Kristin’s work in the educational field has shown a clean need for change and her passion is to support parents and educators create successful experience for children to thrive.

Kathy Little, COO

With over a decade of experience in the events industry and a proven track record in customer service, Kathleen is known for her exceptional organizational skills, adaptability, and unwavering dedication to client satisfaction. As a mother of five, she has mastered the art of multitasking, creative problem-solving, and effective communication—skills that seamlessly translate into AIE’s commitment to empowering families and learners of all ages.

Zach Hilner, CIO

Zach has worked in technology and design for over 15 years with over a decade experience and proven track record in the education sector. Zach prides himself on listening to user feedback and providing results that deliver. As a co-founder of AIE, Zach remains committed to helping those dedicated to children thrive in their educational experiences - from obtaining CE’s to understanding how to better youth development and livelihood.

Charlee Dirickson, Educational Content & Research Associate

Charlee is a Sociology major with a Psychology concentration at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Passionate about education, wellness, and mental health, she served as VP of Member Integrity and VP of DEIA for Sigma Kappa Epsilon Omega, overseeing executive operations and initiatives for a 250+ member chapter. At AIE, Charlee helps develop and research educational content, supporting content, scriptwriting, and resources that highlight innovative practices and connect communities.

Hayden Auble, Content Researcher

Hayden holds a BSc in Earth Science, MSc in Astrophysics and is pursuing her PhD. in England. She is passionate about making learning accessible. At AIE she combines her scientific background with content work—creating social posts, researching education and parenting ideas, and producing TinyTube videos. Hayden focuses on clear, visually engaging content that makes complex topics approachable and impactful for diverse audiences.

Alex Little, Content Creator

Alex is a recent high school graduate starting his professional journey with AIE. Eager to learn and contribute, he brings a fresh perspective and strong work ethic. Outside of work he enjoys gaming and sports, which have built his strategic thinking, teamwork, and perseverance. Committed to personal growth, Alex is enthusiastic about supporting AIE’s mission and looks forward to developing new skills and making meaningful contributions.

Corinna Smutny, Content Creator

An alumna of Cal State Long Beach with degrees in International Studies and Political Science, who is currently in law school. She has worked as an administrative assistant in school psychology, a policy research intern for a California-focused nonprofit, and an immigration intern using her Spanish fluency for client support and legal research. At AIE, Corinna creates communication materials and researches resources to address education gaps, advocating for equitable education.

AIE Interns

Allana O'Callaghan, Research & Media Developer

Alanna is a Psychology major with a Child Development minor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She is a first-generation American who is passionate about providing resources to aid first-generation students and applicants. At AIE, Alanna helps create, research, and distribute educational content and resources. Driven by a desire to provide equity and support AIE’s mission.

Mya Clarke, Research & Media Developer

Mya is a Psychology major at Cal Poly SLO. She is passionate about art, cognitive benefits of creativity, and accessibility to the arts. Over the years, she has worked with a tuition-free arts program, working to make the arts accessible to all ages. At AIE, Mya helps to research and organize data into engaging content for wider audiences on various online platforms.

Madeline Mlouk, Mental Health Education & Researcher

Maddy is a Mental Health Education & Research Intern at AIE. I’m passionate about student stress research and empowering parents with the knowledge and tools to better support their children. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time outdoors and with friends.