Strong leadership and communication skills have shaped every part of my personal and professional journey. As a special education professional and single mother of two, I’ve learned that leadership isn’t just about giving direction; it’s about being adaptable, patient, and deeply connected to the people you serve. Whether I’m supporting a child through a challenging transition or leading a team of educators through an IEP meeting, I lead with clarity and compassion. I also carry these qualities into my home, where I’m raising a 1-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son. Every day is a lesson in managing chaos, modeling strength, and showing my children what it means to lead with love. Resilience is my foundation. Juggling motherhood, graduate school, work, and clinical hours is not easy, but I’ve stayed grounded in my purpose. There have been days filled with back-to-back behavior therapy sessions, homework deadlines, and bedtime meltdowns, but I’ve learned to keep going even when I’m tired. I’ve developed systems, leaned into faith, and reminded myself often: the work I’m doing now will create a life of stability and service for both my clients and my children. I’m pursuing my degree in Applied Behavior Analysis to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). My goal is to build a practice called Beyond Behavior, a space that combines evidence-based therapy with real-life joy, where kids with autism can learn through play, movement, and relationships. I want to create a model that meets families where they are, sometimes literally poolside, with bubble wands, laughter, and connection. I envision giving back through free community events, sensory-friendly playgroups, and parent coaching. My practice will reflect not just behavior science, but heart. Being unselfish is central to this work. I care deeply about the children and families I serve, and I often go above and beyond because I believe in the mission. When I see a child finally use a communication device independently or watch a family have their first smooth bedtime routine, I’m reminded why this path matters. Leadership to me means using your influence to uplift others. It means walking beside people, not in front of them. I believe great leaders create space for growth, they listen, they adapt, and they inspire. That’s the leader I strive to be: someone who leads with empathy, lives with purpose, and builds something that lasts beyond them. I am focused and determined to reach my goals because I know who I’m doing this for, the children who deserve better systems, and my kids, who deserve to see what passion and perseverance can build.

I am a special education teacher, Registered Behavior Technician, and doctoral student in Applied Behavior Analysis at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. I am also a proud mother of two children under the age of five. Every day, I juggle motherhood, a full-time career, and rigorous doctoral coursework, all while holding tightly to a vision that was shaped by my roots and driven by my purpose. I was raised in Baltimore, Maryland, in a single-parent home where resources were limited and opportunities didn't always feel within reach. Despite these obstacles, I earned my Master's degree with a 4.0 GPA and have maintained that GPA throughout my doctoral program. I discovered I was pregnant with my second child during my first term in the program, but I refused to let that stop me. Through sleepless nights and long workdays, I've pushed forward because I know what's at stake not just for me, but for the children and families I serve. My dissertation centers on expanding the use of wearable visual schedules to improve executive functioning and daily living skills in children with developmental disabilities. What makes my work deeply personal is that it is explicitly designed with impoverished communities in mind, communities like the one I grew up in, where children are often overlooked, under-resourced, and boxed into limiting expectations. These children deserve more than survival; they deserve support, access, and someone who will believe in them enough to change the system. This scholarship would directly support my ability to finish this vital work. Financial strain is a daily challenge. Between tuition, childcare, and household expenses, the pressure is high, but my passion is higher. Receiving this scholarship would not only ease the financial burden. Still, it would also allow me to dedicate more time and energy to completing a dissertation that can lead to real-world solutions for children in underserved areas. It would allow me to focus on building interventions that are low-cost, culturally relevant, and accessible because tools that help children thrive shouldn't be a luxury. My long-term goal is to establish a multidisciplinary center that provides behavioral therapy, academic enrichment, and family support, specifically targeting neurodiverse children in low-income communities. This center will stand as both a sanctuary and a launchpad where children are not just taught, but believed in; not just treated, but empowered. Education has given me a deeper understanding of who I am and the legacy I want to leave. It has taught me that my voice matters, that my story has power, and that I can be a mirror for the girls who come after me. As a Black woman in academia and a mother raising two young Black children, I feel a profound responsibility to lead by example. This scholarship wouldn't just help me earn a degree; it would help me ignite change. It would be an investment in a vision that turns personal struggle into public service and adversity into action. With your support, I will continue to build a world where every child, regardless of their diagnosis, zip code, or background, is seen, supported, and allowed to rise.

My name is Kyrra Goldring, and I am a special education teacher, Registered Behavior Technician, and doctoral candidate at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where I proudly hold a 4.0 GPA. I also completed my master's degree with a perfect GPA. But more than my academic achievements, I am a mother of two beautiful children under five, a woman who refuses to be defined by statistics, and a relentless advocate for children with special needs. I care deeply about breaking the stigma that children with developmental challenges are limited to the boxes society places around them. I was born and raised in Baltimore by a single parent, where opportunities were scarce, but determination was not. I learned early on that if I wanted to see change, I had to be the one to create it. That passion to rewrite the narrative for others now fuels every step of my journey. The real-world issue I feel most connected to is the marginalization of children with special needs. Too often, they are underestimated, undersupported, and overlooked. This matters to me because I work with these children every day, I see their potential, their spark, and how quickly it can be dimmed when the world only sees a label. They don't need to be fixed; they need environments that allow them to thrive. If I had the power to make a change, I would create a community-based program that combines education, advocacy, and family support to empower children with autism and developmental disabilities. It would offer wearable visual supports, behavior therapy, life skills training, and wraparound services designed to nurture both the child and their caregivers. I believe in building systems that affirm every child's worth and help them reach their full potential. I chose to study Applied Behavior Analysis because I saw the powerful difference it made in children's ability to communicate, connect, and gain independence. I aim to utilize this science to break down barriers and advocate for inclusive, compassionate practices across schools, clinics, and communities. In the next five years, my goal is to open a center for autistic children and their families—a space that embodies acceptance, innovation, and community. I plan to achieve this by continuing my research, building partnerships with like-minded professionals, and using my own experience as both a practitioner and parent to inform the program's foundation. Education has been a mirror and a roadmap for me. It showed me who I am and what I'm capable of. Learning has given me the tools not only to change my life but also to shape the futures of countless others. It transformed my purpose from mere survival to one of impact. As a Black woman in this field, I carry both pride and a sense of responsibility. I want to be the role model I never saw growing up for my daughter, my son, and every little girl who looks like me. I want them to know that you can rise above statistics, chase big dreams, and still lead with heart. Leadership, to me, means being the first one to open the box so others can climb out too. Whether I'm advocating in an IEP meeting, coaching a soccer team, or mentoring a fellow mom, I lead with empathy, action, and conviction. Change doesn't always come with a title; sometimes it starts with a question, a voice, or a hand held out. I learned resilience the year I began my doctorate while pregnant with my second child. Balancing motherhood, academics, and full-time work was overwhelming, but I never let go of my purpose. I earned straight A's while rocking a newborn to sleep. I cried, I fought through the exhaustion, and I kept showing up for my kids, my clients, and my dreams. I learned that strength is not about having it easy; it's about choosing not to quit. Receiving this scholarship would mean more than financial relief; it would be an investment in every child I hope to reach. It would help lighten the load I carry as a working mother and student, allowing me to focus more energy on building the future I envision. With your support, I'll continue growing into the changemaker I know I was born to be.

My name is Kyrra Goldring. I am a 30 year old Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT) with a two year old son. I was born and raised in Baltimore City. I have a 13 year old cousin, whom I am very close with, that has been diagnosed with autism disorder. From the time he was born I was always interested in how he learned. He took such an interest in trains and could recall numerous facts that even I couldn’t remember. I found an interest in how his mom had to raise him differently than his siblings. I truly believe that was when my interest in Applied Behavioral Analyst (ABA) first came about. I am currently enrolled in a master’s program at The National University for Applied Behavior Analysis with a prospective graduation date of July 2023. I believe that I deserve the Heineman Scholarship because I have found my calling and passion in ABA through working with autistic students in the Baltimore County Public School system. Most people search a lifetime to find their purpose - I was blessed to find it at the age of 26! After receiving my certification as a RBT, I have a better understanding of how I can help apply ABA to students/clients as well as individuals in my community with or without a disability or disorder. I apply ABA to both my work and personal life, especially with raising my son. Moreover, I have learned so much and humbly understand there is much more to learn. One of my favorite quotes by Alexander Den Heijer is “When a flower doesn't bloom you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower”. In my opinion, this quote can be applied to not only life, but ABA as well. It embodies the understanding that everyone learns differently. It also stresses the importance that with each learning difference you must change teaching methods, responses to students/clients, and instructional practices to ensure each individual is able to benefit, learn, and grow. If I am awarded this scholarship, I will apply it to my education. My short-term goal is to graduate with a master’s degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis to become a Board Certified Behavioral Analysis (BCBA). My long-term goals include: a doctoral degree in a similar study, host educational courses in my community for those with autistic loved ones, and open a non-profit organization to spread awareness and provide services for disabled individuals. Each seminar or education course held would explain the four functions of behaviors, suggest positive reinforcement styles, and provide resources like PBS to help those in need. The non-profit organization would provide a center for children and adults diagnosed with autism to have a safe space to play, learn, and socialize with individuals just like them. My inspiration to become an advocate for the autistic community stems from my support system. I am surrounded by helpful and positive people that nurture me as an individual. I only hope to begin to do the same for my future students/clients. I am positively overwhelmed with gratitude from seeing how much I have helped bring a positive benefit to those families around me by helping them apply and understand the field of ABA. It is truly heartwarming to know that I make a positive difference in others lives! These previously stated reasons are why I believe I deserve the Heineman Scholarship. Sincerely, Kyrra Goldring