Hi, I'm Matthew Klaver.
I founded Klaver.Kind. because I believe every child deserves a real chance—regardless of circumstance.
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My path to this work was a meandering one, and in many ways that journey shaped this vision. It wasn’t until I began working with students with disabilities and children facing significant challenges at age 28 that everything changed. That experience lit a fire in me.
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I saw firsthand how many young people were working incredibly hard just to get through the day—often carrying burdens far beyond academics, including instability, unmet needs, limited access to opportunity, and systems that too often expected resilience without providing support.
"I also saw something else in my students: Potential. Strength. Brilliance. Children who could thrive when given the right relationships, resources, and opportunities."
That realization shaped the mission of Klaver.Kind. This work is about helping children feel safe, seen, heard, and supported. It is about expanding access, removing barriers, and walking alongside young people and families over time so they have a real opportunity to build lives filled with dignity, possibility, and hope.
Professional Background
Led by Lived Experience.
Over the past 18 years, I’ve worked across a wide range of educational settings supporting children with diverse strengths, needs, and life circumstances.
18+
Years of Experience
Working in high-needs center-based programs, PK–8 schools, and school leadership roles to bridge systemic gaps.
Systems Change & Equity
I have served on equity teams focused on making schools more accessible, inclusive, and responsive for children and families from diverse backgrounds. But more than titles or roles, these experiences shaped my understanding that children do not thrive through isolated interventions alone.
360+ IEP Meetings
Serving as a Special Education Department Chair and MTSS/RTI team lead for over a decade, building deep collaborative support systems.
2025 Teacher of the Year
Serving as a Special Education Department Chair and MTSS/RTI team lead for over a decade, building deep collaborative support systems.
Why Klaver.Kind. is Different
Real change begins when people feel seen, respected, and understood.
What makes my approach different is that I don’t come to this work solely through a professional or systems lens—I bring real-life understanding, lived experience, and a deep belief in the power of human connection.
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I know firsthand how complex, emotional, and deeply personal it can be to navigate struggle, uncertainty, limited access, and systems that often feel hard to understand or trust. That is why I believe meaningful support starts with relationship.
The Foundation
At Klaver.Kind., relationships are not secondary to the work—they are the foundation. By building trust and connection, we can better understand what a child or family truly needs and create supports that are thoughtful, practical, and lasting.
​Our Core Philosophy
Opening Doors
Our work is about helping open doors—to resources, relationships, enrichment, and experiences that can change a child’s trajectory over time. It's about discovering joy and building confidence.
Honoring Realities
I recognize that hardship shows up in complicated ways—through stress, trauma, disability, or navigating too much with too little support. Our work begins by honoring those realities, then building something stronger.
Shared Responsibility
No one thrives when life is built around constant stress. Real progress happens when children and families feel connected. This is a shared responsibility, and it takes a community.