About Us

our team

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.

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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

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.

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 the AIE, Charlee helps develop and research educational content, supporting content creation, scriptwriting, and resources that highlight innovative practices and connect communities.

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.

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.