Christine Burkhart, BS, B-k
Owner/Director

I am a small town girl from Ridgeway, VA who is passionate about 5 things: Jesus, my family, people, farms, and soccer! I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development and Family Relations from East Carolina University and for the past 25+ years, I have been serving families and children with ALL abilities in the state of NC through many roles from assistant teacher to supervisor. In all my years of teaching neurotypical and atypical children, I found a common denominator – connections. We all want to connect–be apart–feel loved. So after 7 years of being a special educator with Wake County Public Schools, I quit my job to start a business that not only helped kids, but brought families and communities together in the ways we interact and love one another despite our challenges. Building Connections, LLC will be 8 years old in May of 2025 and serves more than 350 families, schools, and communities through advocacy, social skill groups, summer camps, coaching, training, and lots more! I also work collaboratively with numerous professional providers and schools in Triangle to maximize the support families receive. Kids are succeeding and growing and most of all...feeling connected and valued for who they are! I want to inspire children to love themselves for who they are and help them to ignite connections and relationships with others that are lasting. Each child deserves to feel loved no matter what and be given tools to help them navigate their emotions, friendships, and learning in any environment! Each deserves to feel success, even in the hard stuff! I enjoy training and coaching other teachers in best practices related to neurodivergent learners! I have recently presented at the International Inclusion Conference through UNC-CH regarding Child and Family Focused IEPS! My experiences as an educator and business leader are priceless, but my experience as a mom of a child who learns differently certainly gives me a perspective like no other. So I get it. My sweet husband Chris and I live in Raleigh and have 2 young adult children, Jackson and Julia. I love to travel, thrift shop, make up songs to anything, love on people, and spend time with all of our animals! I wrote this in 2020: "My dream is to have Building Connections Farm where we provide developmentally appropriate and natural, social learning experiences through structure and curiosity in social groups, equine therapy, PT/OT/Speech, Psychological Services, Nutritional services, Job Coaching, and employ people with disabilities! It’s coming, y'all!" Update: WE HAVE OUR FARM!!!! May 2023, BC purchased 12.5 acres in Youngsville, NC ...a safe haven...a respite for neurodivergent kids and families! We are home to several trails and woodlands, a creek, treehouse, playground, sensory garden, mud kitchen, crop garden, pastures and a barn that house our 50+ animals: chickens, goats, horses, cats and dogs...and don't forget our sweet kune kune pig, LULU!  So...Dreams do come true!