Rebecca Knighton, PhD
Catalyst for Change in Education
Rebecca believes in the potential of every student—and in the educators who serve them. Through heartfelt connection, courageous conversations, and actionable insights, she helps educators rethink what’s possible.
Whether you’re looking to reignite your passion for teaching, build stronger relationships with students, or lead with more authenticity, Rebecca offers practical strategies and mindsets that help you grow in your role and make a lasting impact.
In the Press
Rebecca is embarking on a new journey to share her perspective beyond the classroom. From podcast interviews to news features, she sees these moments as opportunities to share her passion for education reform.
Flip the Script
Breaking Down Barriers, Building Relationships, and Engaging Secondary Students
Rebecca Knighton co-authored Flip the Script to bring her doctoral research to life in classrooms across the country. The book centers on personal and classroom-level change, guiding educators to examine their assumptions and build meaningful relationships that ignite student growth.
Using real examples from five master teachers and paired with practical tools, this book empowers educators to shift their mindset, approach conflict with compassion, and reframe how students see themselves. Readers will walk away with not only strategies, but also a deeper understanding of themselves and a renewed sense of purpose.
Rebecca Knighton
“We need to believe in our students until we can lead them to believe in themselves.”
Meet Rebecca
Rebecca Knighton, PhD, is a lifelong learner with a passion for understanding our shared human needs, the barriers we face, and what motivates us. As a senior consultant with the Colorado Department of Education, she helps district and school leaders lead with heart while navigating complex change efforts. Her work centers on humanistic leadership, culture and climate improvement, and student-centered transformation.
Rebecca began her journey as a middle school behavioral interventionist and gifted and talented specialist, where she co-led Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and student support teams. She also developed and taught a social-emotional intervention class for sixth graders with behavioral and engagement challenges—transforming their academic paths and self-perceptions.
Her doctoral research focused on what the most effective teachers do to connect with and engage disengaged youth. Today, she helps educators develop these same skills, offering tools to flip the script and ignite hope in every learner.
Rebecca holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, a master’s in education, and a PhD in Population Studies in Health. She has presented at state, national, and international conferences. In her role at the Colorado Department of Education, she contributed to the development of state-level frameworks for student wellness and dropout prevention. She is also a working group member for Knowledge Works' Lead for Learners development project.
When she’s not working with educators, she enjoys being in nature with her husband and their Corgi, Tifa, traveling to see her son in Europe, or soaking up the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
What People Are Saying
One of the things I remember about Ms Knighton as a teacher is her complete dedication to creating a real bond with each of her students. During my first year or so of middle school, I really struggled mentally. Having Ms. Knighton there as a consistent person who cared for me really helped me during those times.
Jamison
Former Student
Rebecca has the rare combination of lived experience, research expertise, and the ability to blend the two for the benefit of students.
Adam
Colleague
Rebecca is truly collaborative, working "with" our team rather than imposing solutions, and she consistently listened to understand our unique challenges and needs. She made everyone feel supported, heard, valued, and cared for throughout the process. Her deep understanding of adult learning theory combined with her expertise in leading transformational change, enabled her to guide our staff effectively through complex system improvements.
Marsha
Former Technical Assistance Recipient
Ms. Knighton was a rare highlight of my school experience. She is pretty much single handedly responsible for my graduation. She was the only person willing to take the time to reframe my education from something I felt I was consistently falling short at into an experience I was able to have a bit of control over. More than anything, she met me where I was without needing me to conform to a certain right way.
Fiona
Former Student
Rebecca welcomed everyone in her classroom with joy and you could tell it was a safe space to be yourself. She would help anyone who would need help with life or school work. Or if you just wanted to vent, she was there with a smile.
Darius
Former Student
After working with and collaborating with Rebecca over the years, I've witnessed firsthand her amazing ability to identify the true needs of our clients and use transformative thinking to implement real and lasting change for them! Rebecca's real strength lies in her ability to understand the human needs of the people she serves and build the infrastructure to support them in their goals.
Evan
Colleague
I was very fortunate to work with Rebecca for over 5 years. She has an incredible talent in helping school districts implement new ideas and procedures all while keeping the values and unique identity of each school district intact.
Levi
Former Technical Assistance Recipient
Rebecca was one of those rare teachers who truly made an impact on my life. She inspired me to apply myself in ways I hadn’t before and helped me see that I could take what I was learning and pursue it as a career, while also making a difference for others along the way. What stood out most about Rebecca was how she taught and led with her heart. I am deeply grateful for the experience of having her as a teacher.
Brittany
Former Student
Book Rebecca for Professional Development
Classroom & Personal-Level Transformation
Rebecca offers professional development for educators rooted in the transformative practices shared in Flip the Script. Her trainings invite deep reflection, challenge limiting beliefs, and equip teachers with practical ways to connect with students—especially those who are disengaged or misunderstood.
Whether it's a half-day workshop or a multi-session series, Rebecca brings warmth, clarity, and insight to every session. Educators leave feeling seen, energized, and ready to make change from the inside out.
She also offers co-facilitated sessions with her book’s co-author for teams looking for dual facilitation and richer collaborative experiences.
Let’s Connect
Have a question or want to explore working together? Reach out below to start the conversation.
