Kristen Brookshire Enhances Her Skills with Career Ladders and Frontline Supervisors Credentialling

Motivated to advance her career and successfully lead her team.

After Kristen Brookshire graduated from high school, she had no idea what the future would hold. All she knew was that she needed a job, so she found work at a tavern, a pharmacy, and a packing company.

When a friend’s mother who worked at Penn-Mar suggested she “give it a go” there, Kristen applied for a Direct Support Professional (DSP) position and was hired to cover the “awake overnights” third shift at a community home in Stewartstown, PA. Soon to be married and anxious to build a more stable home life, she eventually transferred to a second shift position at the same residence.

Kristen has been a part of Penn-Mar’s Stewartstown home since 2002. Over the years, she’s accomplished a great deal both personally and professionally. While raising four children (now ages 9 to 18) and balancing family life with work, she’s earned two promotions at Penn-Mar: first to Senior Residential Assistant, and most recently, to Residential Supervisor.

Kristen has built lasting relationships with both her team members and the people they support. “I am very motivated to continue my education to advance my career and successfully lead my team,” she said. “When I started with Penn-Mar, I didn’t know I would one day be proficient in CPR, medicine administration, First Aid, and trauma care, as well as Penn-Mar’s person-centered approach to supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).”

In 2022, she embarked on a journey to pursue professional credentialling through the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP). Penn-Mar’s Career Ladders program provides professional development opportunities for DSPs to grow in their careers and ‘move up the ladder’ without having to leave the DSP profession behind. 

“I was a little hesitant to start the program since I’m not the type of person looking for the spotlight or recognition,” she said. “But I wanted to challenge myself and everyone around me seemed to enjoy the program and the benefits it provided. Once I started training, I couldn’t stop! I did all three levels in only a year and now have my DSP-III certification.”

This past February, Kristen was up for another challenge. She earned an additional certification through the Frontline Supervisors Credentialling Program (FLSC), a 60-hour instructional program focused on developing the knowledge and skills of Frontline Supervisors.

“Penn-Mar has given me so much knowledge and training to help me lead my team,” Kristen said. “The organization is always doing things to improve the way they deliver supports for people with disabilities, which is extremely important to me.”

Working with people with disabilities has shifted Kristen’s perspective on how society often views people with IDD. “There was a time, before I knew much about IDD, when I might have glanced at someone with a disability out of curiosity. But knowing what I know now, I see beautiful people that are just like you and me. I love learning more about the people I support to help them live the life they want to live.”

Kristen makes sure her children are familiar with what she does every day and why she does it. “I didn’t want to just bounce from job-to-job. Somehow, I always knew I wanted a career in human services. I just didn’t know what that would look like,” she said.

“Penn-Mar is where my heart and passion are. I’ve always been the type of person who wanted to help people, which is a value I’ve encouraged in my children. By sharing with them all the positive experiences of my career, I have no doubt that some of them might eventually consider following me in this field.”