All teaching is collaborative, and our students can teach us how to teach, learn, and create.”
Kirstin’s Story
Dr. Kirstin Milks left a career practicing science to pursue teaching.
Kirstin teaches AP Biology and introductory science at Bloomington High School South in Bloomington, Indiana, where she also serves as a STEM team coach and mentor. Kirstin loves collaborating with students and community members to learn together in inclusive and responsive environments, as well as supporting and making public the work of teaching and learning—all with the goal of helping youth build a just and sustainable world.
Supported by her family and teachers, Kirstin studied biochemistry at Pennsylvania State University, where she graduated in 2002. She went on to research bacterial photosynthesis and cell division, earning a string of prestigious fellowships and awards including a National Science Foundation Fellowship, a Fulbright scholarship and a grant from the Department of Defense. She earned a PhD in biochemistry (2009) and a masters in teaching (2010) from Stanford University.
Kirstin is a Senior Fellow with the Knowles Teacher Initiative, where she served for five years as an editor-in-chief at Kaleidoscope. Her experience in Knowles continues to be one of the most impactful driving forces in her dedication to science teaching. Kirstin is also a National Board Certified Teacher, a Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, the 2025 president of the National Association of Biology Teachers, and a Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellow. When she’s not teaching, Kirstin enjoys visiting the local library with her family, volunteering with Girl Scouts, and practicing all-ages taekwondo.