By: Pia Ostrognai ’25

Each fall, Steamboat Mountain School welcomes new faculty to the Mountain Campus, and amongst the new-hires this year, one teacher stands out as she brings a warmth, passion, and deep commitment to her students. A dedicated math teacher, Kristi Hardy’s path to SMS was shaped by her love of teaching, the outdoors, and learning herself. 

 

From Texas to Colorado (And a Seattle Pit Stop)
Growing up in a small town south of Austin, Texas, Kristi stayed local and close to home through college, attending the University of Texas at Austin where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 2010. Her passion for teaching led her to complete the rigorous UTeach teacher preparation program alongside her college classes, which set her on the path for her future career. 

Kristi began her teaching career at a public high school in Texas, but in 2011, she moved to Seattle to be with her boyfriend—who, spoiler alert, is now her husband! While in Seattle, she earned a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Washington, as well as a Master of Education in Instructional Design.

There, she continued teaching a wide range of math levels at another public high school for 12 years. Raising her children (Owen and Emmy) in Seattle during this time fostered her love for the outdoors, in conjunction with being a teacher, and so in 2023, Kristi and her family made their move to Steamboat, eager for a new adventure in the mountains. 

From her roots in Austin, Seattle, and now Steamboat, Kristi developed an amalgamation of passions: reading, snowboarding, hiking, being outside with her kids, backpacking, and fishing. Soccer used to exist in that list as well, but she jokes that “after (no exaggeration) thirty sprained ankles, [she’s] finally given up the sport.” At least Kristi is talented at heaps more activities! And if you play a Harry Potter Kahoot! in one of her math classes, no one will beat her because of her love for the magical series. She has a tattoo of Fawkes, the phoenix from Harry Potter – a fitting symbol for a teacher who believes in resilience and transformation!

 

New Chapter at SMS

Transitioning from large public high schools to the small and intimate Steamboat Mountain School campuses was a significant shift, but one that Kristi has embraced wholeheartedly. The switch from teaching five classes a day with around thirty students to teaching three classes a day with a maximum of fifteen students a day allowed for strong personal growth as a teacher and as a person.

Likely learned from her father, who was also a teacher, Kristi is kind, compassionate, and supportive with her students and others around her, and throughout her fifteen years of teaching, stays true to her mantra. 

“I’ve always been passionate about knowing my students – like really knowing them, what they like, what they do outside of school,” she shares. “[I feel] that a strong student-teacher relationship is the first hurdle in understanding and appreciating mathematics.” 

And with the smaller class sizes, such connections happen naturally. They allow her to talk with every student every day, forging connections which make a huge difference in how they engage with the material and together, as a community. Her favorite aspects of SMS are how close teachers are with students, their love for the outdoors, and their community focus. 

As for the unique mod system, her opinions are a mixed bag. While Kristi enjoys the deep dive into topics and the flexibility the schedule provides, she acknowledges the presence of challenges for us students – particularly the fast pace and the lack of finals, which she believes can be detrimental in college during high-stake environments. But ultimately, Kristi handles the benefits and challenges with a steady hand, balancing the new schedule gracefully to create a positive and encouraging environment to learn.

As a student of Kristi’s, I can confirm and appreciate her sense of community and commitment to accommodating teaching to a variety of students, and can commend her on her focus for attaining what is best for us.

Words of Wisdom

When asked for advice she would give to students, Kristi’s list glowed with plenty of gems – an equal mix of wise, practical, and simply encouraging: “Always stand up for what is right. Resist complacency. Remember to vote (in every election, not just the big ones). Wear sunscreen, even when it’s cloudy. Put down your phone and talk to people face to face. Never follow somebody else’s path, unless you’re lost in the woods and you see a path – then definitely follow that path. Spend less time watching Netflix and more time reading. Recognize your full potential and put everything you have towards achieving your goals.” 

Kristi is much more than just a math teacher. For me, and certainly for many others, she is a true asset to the Mountain School community as a mentor, adventurer, and an integral guiding light. Navigating the trails of an Orientation Expedition trip and the trials students might face in the classroom, her enthusiasm and heart to whatever she does brightens the halls and inspires our generation of students to strive for the best. 

And really, what else could you ask for?