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All about me!
Hi! I'm Kristen. I am passionate about developing research based executive function programs like our 360 Thinking Program to help students develop greater levels of independence at school and home. It brings me great joy to see students thrive and achieve learning skills they never thought possible. Trained as a speech-language pathologist, executive function coach and educator, I also enjoy working closely with educational professionals in schools and clinics to build executive function-based teaching approaches in their daily work with students. Supporting elementary, middle school, high school, and college students to become independent and successful in using thinking routines that are part of the 360 Thinking Program in order to effectively manage academics, activities, work, and interests is a central focus of my work. As a mom of 3 children, I also understand the importance of executive function skills at home. I enjoy working with parents to support their children's executive functioning skills needed for homework, as well as routines and tasks at home.
Meet Kristen
Ms. Kristen Jacobsen, MS is a trained speech-language pathologist, author and executive function coach who is Co-Director at the Cognitive Connections Executive Function Practice. Ms. Jacobsen graduated from the Speech-Language Pathology program at the MGH Insitute of Health Professions where she focused on language, literacy and cognition. As Co-Director at Cognitive Connections for over 30 years, she provides training and coaching for teachers and professionals internationally. She also provides parent consultations, as well as student training and coaching services. Ms. Jacobsen works to research, develop and implement new methodology and programs that can maximize a student's ability to learn to their potential and increase self-esteem as they become more independent learners. Kristen is the co-author of the award-winning 360 Thinking Program which aims to improve students' executive function skills at school and home. She enjoys seeing students make new gains, as well as training teachers, educational professionals and therapists in the use of executive function teaching approaches.
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​Prior to establishing Cognitive Connections, Ms. Jacobsen has worked as an educational consultant and speech-language pathologist in public education, private schools, and hospital settings. Ms. Jacobsen has provided teacher training seminars and school consultations nationally. She worked with colleagues to create and implement comprehensive individual and group therapy programs for language and cognition at Massachusetts General Hospital. She focused on working with children, adolescents and adults diagnosed with ADHD and Post-Concussive Syndrome.
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Ms. Jacobsen was the recipient of the MGH Expertise in Clinical Practice Award. The 360
Thinking Executive Function Program she co-developed has received the Innovative Promising Practices Award from the National Organization CHADD, and this program has been presented to over 1800 public and private schools and organizations worldwide. In recognition of their global influence in the field of twice-exceptional learning, their program was the honored recipient of the Nancy Tarshis Legacy Fellowship Award. Further solidifying her eminent figure status, Kristen was named one of the Top 10 Professional Development Providers for 2023 by Education Technology Insights Magazine.
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During personal time, she enjoys biking, traveling as well as spending time with her husband and their 3 children.