Words from collaborators, participants, and students

  • "Rhiannon brings a strong social justice lens to her work as a facilitator, educator, and advocate. She is a grounding presence who has a gift for assessing a group's goals and current state with regards to liberation work, and she builds trust as she guides them. She is passionate about centering the needs of students of color, trans and queer students, and students with disabilities, and she is always thinking about breaking down barriers for those with multiple marginalized identities. She is committed to receiving training and constantly educating herself and growing in this work, and she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work in trainings and as part of a team of educators."

    Dolan (they/them/theirs), UVM PhD student

  • "25 years in education, Rhiannon is one of the most profound, humble, real professional experiences I've had. Her work immediately impacts me as an educator and I would be first in line for any work she is willing to share. Thank you for bringing her (back) into our world."

    Classroom Teacher

    Workshop Participant

  • "I had the distinct pleasure of working with Rhiannon through the Middle Grades Institute (MGI). MGI brought Rhiannon in to facilitate several workshops for the staff to begin doing internal work around racism and equity. As the only black staff person, she first reached out to me to get my perspective and ensure that I had what I needed as we pursued this work. That one phone call alone told me all I needed to know about who she, her integrity, and what a true powerhouse she was. When a few of the staff met with Rhiannon to discuss how the workshops would go, I was a part of that small group. Immediately, Rhiannon understood that the work ahead - the work around processing what it is to be white in American and how it impacts people of color - was not something I needed to do. What she also understood and expressed was the value I brought as a black woman. Before I knew it, she recommended that I co-facilitate the workshops. And like that, our relationship shifted from one of participator to coworker. Again, I was in awe of who this person was. Working with Rhiannon to co-facilitate the workshops was one of the most powerful experiences of my life. Her intelligence, her knowledge, innate understanding, her sensitivity, her depth ... it's more than just "top notch" is beyond what I have experienced in more than 5 decades. Rhiannon doesn't just know the stats of racism, she understands her audience on a deep level and connects what they need with what will push them beyond their comfort level just enough to bring them to the point where they are able to begin to "see". It's an art form. I have come to refer to Rhiannon as a "Warrior Queen". She's that ... and much, much more."

    Erika Saunders, M.Ed., NBCT

  • "I had the pleasure of attending a PD with Rhiannon that was offered through Cotsen. She possesses a wealth of knowledge that pushed my thinking and opened my mind. She provided us with a myriad of resources to continue the work we began together. I truly appreciate her dedication to her craft and commitment to better the education and educational experiences of all children."

    Erin Montoya

    Workshop participant

  • "Rhiannon modeled what responsive teaching is, truly listening to the passions and needs of her students. It was so refreshing to take a class that really walked the walk and allowed us the space to deeply reflect on the big ideas we were learning and talking about. This course pushed me to take time for myself, and return to a part of myself I truly love!! The mindful, intuitive part of me, that sometimes gets lost in all of the things I have to be planning for school. I think what my students appreciate most about my room is the sense of calm and community, and so I just feel LIT up to cultivate that again for my next group of students I'll be meeting in a few weeks."

    Graduate Course Participant

  • "After my first semester, I imagined I would never find a professor that I could connect with and feel seen by. I want to say thank you to Professor Rhiannon for giving me that. She is an amazing professor, more importantly, an amazing person. I say this because though she is a teacher she makes the work feel personal, she behaves in a way that feels that like us she has learned effective communication and information navigation. She has restored hope in me for my college experience and I will hold on to that and remain grateful to her."

    Undergraduate Course Participant

  • "Excellent teacher who stresses the importance of consent in an educational and professional environment while also being sure to push her students to go outside of their comfort zone. You wouldn't think an in between of those two would be possible, but she made it possible."

    Undergraduate Course Participant

  • "I was given the opportunity to learn from Rhiannon during my final semester of graduate school. During our time together, I not only learned about speech and language therapeutic practices but more importantly, I learned about restorative practices, mindfulness, leadership, and what inner strengths and challenges I hold. Rhiannon’s leadership encompasses compassion, curiosity, and a dedication to strengthening the community she is a part of. Her brilliance and devotion to equity allowed me to feel safe to take risks, speak authentically, and reflect on my own beliefs and training. I am forever grateful for Rhiannon’s guidance and will take the knowledge I have learned from her in every situation I face. "

    Ali Evans (she|her)

  • "If you are part of an organization committed to doing antiracist work with integrity and sustainability, Rhiannon Kim is the facilitator/trainer to hire. I have known and worked with Rhiannon for the past 10 years. During that time, I have witnessed Rhiannon’s work in a wide variety of leadership roles where her skills and knowledge in collaborative practices, antiracist pedagogy, and social and emotional learning were instrumental in moving our school district forward on specific goals, including educational equity. Rhiannon knows and understands school/organizational structures, and her ability to envision and implement sustainable change is what is needed right now for groups committed to antiracist work rooted in integrity. Rhiannon served as an educational leader on our school district’s diversity, equity, and inclusion committee, co-founded the professionals of color empowerment cipher, and was an integral part of the equity planning team, a consultant group that organized and facilitated professional development for staff on racial and social equity. Additionally, Rhiannon co-created/taught/led our two graduate level courses on building/advancing social and emotional competencies in school systems, work that included overhauling previously written courses in order to include antiracist practices. Rhiannon works from a place of deep integrity and courage with a genuine commitment to anti-oppression. I have been both Rhiannon’s colleague and student, and what I have learned from her has transformed my own practice.”

    Susie Merrick (she/her)

  • "I worked with Rhiannon at the South Burlington School District as a close collaborative colleague for 3 years- she was the fearless leader for our district's speech language pathologist team. When our group presented big problems and big solutions, Rhiannon was able to organize, coordinate, and streamline our efforts into a framework of actionable steps. When we needed advocacy and support at the district level, Rhiannon took on the challenging conversations. For students and adults alike, when it comes to advocacy, you want Rhiannon in your corner. She is a fierce voice for those that have historically been thought of last and pushes systems to do better. Wherever Rhiannon goes (no matter the capacity or job description!), she brings an invaluable set of skills and is an asset to all."

    Jessica Lynch, M.A., CCC-SLP (she/her)

  • “Rhiannon was amazing! The content was excellent for not only my team and school but for myself personally. Information was presented in an easy to understand format. Rhiannon was accommodating to the group's needs and interests. By far the best part of the week!”

    Workshop Course Participant

  • "I felt most affirmed in this class simply by being treated like a living, feeling, human being who is affected by the current state of the world, rather than just an individual who needed to complete a specific amount of work, in a specific amount of time, and have it turned in by a specific date. The understanding and empathy extended to the students in this class (by you, Rhiannon) far exceeded any that I have experienced with any previous professors, and for that I am beyond grateful. By allowing us to be the judge of our own capabilities in relation to work output (in relation to our current life experiences and challenges outside of school), I felt that I was not only an equal, but that I was also trusted and respected, which honestly made me want to work even harder and complete quality, high caliber assignments. This learning experience has been unique and uncharacteristic."

    Graduate Course Participant