Colleen Kessler
Colleen Kessler
M.Ed. in Gifted Studies, Kent State University · B.S. in Elementary Education, Cleveland State University
She/Her
Colleen Kessler is an educational consultant, author, speaker, and longtime educator who has spent over 25 years helping students and families navigate complex educational journeys with confidence. With a background in gifted education and social-emotional development, Colleen brings a unique blend of strategy, empathy, and real-world experience to her work with students and parents.
As the founder of Raising Lifelong Learners, an internationally recognized education and homeschooling website and podcast, Colleen has guided thousands of families through individualized learning paths, high-stakes academic decisions, executive function challenges, and the emotional realities of supporting creative, passionate, and neurodivergent learners. She is known for helping families stay grounded and connected during overwhelming seasons while also keeping students organized, motivated, and moving forward.
Her experience as both an educator and audition parent allows her to support families with a balance of practical organization, strategic planning, and compassionate encouragement throughout the process. Colleen especially enjoys helping students identify schools and programs that align not only with their goals and talents, but also with who they are as people. She believes students thrive when they feel understood, supported, and empowered to make thoughtful, authentic choices about their futures.
Colleen and her husband Brian live in Northeast Ohio, where she has homeschooled her four children for over 16 years. Trevor, her oldest son, is a freelance video and audio editor specializing in VFX for shorts and feature films, as well as podcast engineering. Molly, an MTCA 2025 alumna, is a sophomore BFA MT major at Otterbein University. Her daughter, Logan, is homeschooling as a dual-credit student and will graduate in 2029 with both her high school diploma and AA, then pursue a degree in wildlife biology and conservation. Her youngest, Isaac, is a rising eighth grader who continues to homeschool.
