Meet the Team: Kaitlin Knecht

Kaitlin & H getting ready to plant in the garden at our “Summer Kick-Off Party” 2025.

Kaitlin Knecht is a science educator, former park ranger, and lifelong learner who believes education is strongest when it grows from connection, curiosity, and real-life experiences. She holds a Masters degree in Curriculum Development from UC and spent a decade teaching middle and high school science in local public schools, helping students build confidence, resilience, and a sense of wonder about the world around them.

Kaitlin has worked with children and families across PK–12, supporting diverse learners as a special education tutor and creating hands-on outdoor learning experiences as a park ranger with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Her green thumb and love of nature, help us keep our Children’s Garden growing. She’s also great at creating new systems and is helping us grow into a sustainable nonprofit with a solid foundation of support.

Kaitlin first connected with Imagine Cincinnati as a parent attending playgroups, then stepped in as a volunteer grant writer. When her very first grant brought in $14,000, we knew she had found a perfect fit for this next season of life. Her love of community service began early through church committees and as an officer in the Coshocton Youth Foundation, a youth philanthropy organization in her hometown.

Now returning to professional work while raising her two young sons, Kaitlin brings a deep appreciation for the joys and challenges of parenting and the importance of strong community support for families. She loves helping children learn through curiosity and exploration—especially outdoors—and enjoys board games, swimming, hiking, reading, singing, and discovering new places around Cincinnati with her husband and boys.

“I wholeheartedly believe in the work that Imagine Cincinnati is doing. I see a vital need in our world for the relationships, programming, and resources we’ve already built for families and am excited to help create and sustain this community for the future.” - Kaitlin