Meet the storytellers

Two voices. One shared purpose.

Robert and Isha Kirton blend educational leadership, publishing, community engagement, and storytelling to create books that help children grow.

Authors D. Isha Kirton and Robert L. Kirton

Robert & Isha Kirton

Creating stories with purpose

The Beast and the Least began with a powerful message: everyone on the team is important. Together, Robert and Isha transformed that message into a joyful story world where children can explore belonging, character, empathy, and the choices that shape a community.

Their school visits bring the books off the page through storytelling, conversation, and genuine connection with young readers.

Robert L. Kirton, Ed.D.

Educator · Author · Leadership Coach

Dr. Robert L. Kirton brings more than 30 years of educational leadership experience to The BEAST School Climate System. A professor, executive director, area superintendent, principal, and U.S. Navy veteran, he brings a distinctive perspective on leadership, resilience, and the challenges facing students, educators, and families.

His work includes founding a public charter high school that graduated 100% of its Black male students, developing successful alternative education and school-climate strategies, securing more than $100 million in grants and resources, and mentoring educational leaders. His service has earned national recognition, including the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award.

As Co-Author of The BEAST, Dr. Kirton partners with D. Isha Kirton to help young people build belonging, strengthen relationships, make positive choices, and realize their potential.

Read the full bio

Dr. Robert L. Kirton brings more than 30 years of educational leadership experience to The BEAST School Climate System. His career has included service as a Professor of Educational Leadership, Executive Director of Schools, Area Superintendent, Principal, and U.S. Navy Veteran, providing him with a unique perspective on leadership, resilience, and the academic, behavioral, and school climate challenges facing students, educators, and families.

As Co-Author of The BEAST with creative partner D. Isha Kirton, Dr. Kirton brings decades of educational leadership and program development together with Isha’s extensive expertise in storytelling, creative development, marketing, and community engagement. Together, they have developed an integrated approach designed to strengthen connections among students, educators, families, and communities.

Dr. Kirton’s work has included founding a public charter high school that graduated 100% of its Black male students, designing an alternative education model that helped over-age middle school students get back on track for graduation, and developing school climate and social-emotional learning strategies for elementary students that produced measurable improvements in student achievement.

These experiences helped shape The BEAST, built around five core principles: Believe • Expect • Act • Support • Trust. The system uses practical tools, engaging stories, and interactive experiences to strengthen relationships, build belonging, develop social-emotional skills, and improve achievement, behavior, and school climate.

Dr. Kirton has also secured more than $100 million in grants and resources to support educational and community initiatives and has spent years preparing and mentoring educational leaders. His service has earned national recognition, including the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award.

Through The BEAST, Robert and Isha combine their distinct areas of expertise around a shared commitment: helping young people believe in themselves, make positive choices, build stronger relationships, and realize their potential in school and beyond.

kirton@dnasupport.us

D. Isha Kirton

Author · Storyteller · Community Builder

D. Isha Kirton brings more than four decades of experience in marketing, broadcasting, storytelling, and creative development. Her career includes leadership roles in the Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Columbia radio markets, with extensive experience at iHeartMedia.

As Executive Director of Marketing & Strategic Partnerships for DNA Educational Solutions and Co-Author of The BEAST School Climate System, Isha helps shape engaging experiences that connect students, educators, families, businesses, and communities. Her background spans advertising, promotions, event production, graphic design, and strategic partnerships.

A gifted storyteller and children’s book author, Isha creates memorable narratives that make social-emotional learning accessible to young people. In partnership with Dr. Robert L. Kirton, she helps schools create environments where students feel seen, valued, connected, and empowered to succeed.

Read the full bio

D. Isha Kirton brings more than four decades of experience in marketing, broadcasting, storytelling, and creative development. Her career includes leadership roles in major radio markets including Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Columbia, with extensive experience at iHeartMedia. Today, she brings that expertise to education, helping transform ideas into engaging experiences that connect with students, educators, families, and communities.

As Executive Director of Marketing & Strategic Partnerships for DNA Educational Solutions and Co-Author of The BEAST School Climate System, Isha helps shape the creative vision behind an integrated approach designed to strengthen achievement, behavior, and school climate. The BEAST engages students, staff, families, and communities through the core values of Believe • Expect • Act • Support • Trust.

A gifted storyteller and children’s book author, Isha creates engaging narratives that make social-emotional learning relevant, memorable, and accessible to young people. Her work supports self-awareness, responsible decision-making, positive relationships, belonging, and healthy school culture.

Drawing on her extensive background in advertising, promotions, event production, graphic design, and strategic partnerships, Isha also helps position and expand initiatives that bring schools, families, businesses, and communities together around student success.

In partnership with Dr. Robert L. Kirton, Isha combines storytelling, creativity, strategic marketing, and community engagement to help schools create environments where students feel seen, valued, connected, and empowered to succeed.

ikirton@thebeastandtheleast.com

The creative spirit behind the stories

Where imagination meets connection.

Isha brings playful characters and meaningful lessons together through storytelling, helping young readers connect with the BEAST story.

Our why

Stories can change the way children see themselves and one another.

Our goal is to give every child language for belonging, confidence to make positive choices, and a reason to believe their contribution matters.