Cristina Barrera is originally from Las Cruces, New Mexico, and has lived in Salt Lake City since 2012. Before joining the Utah State Board of Education as a Preschool Specialist in 2022, she was the Director of an Early Childhood Center in her local community. Cristina led the program to implement a play-based garden curriculum for children ages 18 months to 5 years old and attain designation as a Utah Green School. She also worked as an independent consultant for non-profit organizations in early childhood administration and leadership.For almost 20 years, Cristina has dedicated herself to developmentally appropriate practices and dynamic teaching methods to create and nurture a lifelong love of learning in children and adults. She graduated from National Louis University, receiving a master's degree in Early Childhood Administration and a bachelor's degree with Honors in Psychology from the University of New Mexico.Cristina most recently attended the Utah Rural Schools Association annual conference to promote high-quality preschools. During her time off, she enjoys being outdoors and playing with her rescue dog, Petey. Cristina also loves tending to native plants her family received last fall as part of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food's Pollinator Habitat Program.