Momo Hayakawa
Award-Winning Executive Producer
Creating engaging experiences at the intersection of interactive media and child development
- 4× Telly Awards
- 62M streams in 6 months
- $39M U.S. Dept. of Education grant (PI)
About Me
“Infusing joy and wonder into the world of everyday learning”
I'm a Doctor of Developmental Psychology and educational media executive, overseeing award-winning transmedia projects that span video games, e-books, television, and nationwide Common Core-aligned curriculum. I'm also a voice actor and proud mother of three. As a Japanese American who's fully bilingual, I bring a unique multicultural perspective to creating educational content that resonates across borders and generations. I'm active at the Minneapolis Japanese School, staying connected to my cultural roots and the Japanese community.
My work sits where child development, interactive media, and storytelling meet—crafting experiences that don't just entertain, but genuinely help kids learn, grow, and discover their potential. From PBS KIDS shows to research-backed games, I'm passionate about making learning irresistible.
Ph.D.
Developmental Psychology
Media Executive
Transmedia projects
Voice Actor
Bringing characters to life
Bilingual
Japanese & English
Projects
Games, TV shows, and interactive experiences
Skillsville
Dr. Hayakawa created Skillsville and led it from concept to national launch. As Project Director and Director of Child Development, she guided this multimedia program — funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Ready to Learn grant — to 62 million streams in its first six months. Skillsville won four Telly Awards (including the 'Chef and Train Engineer' and 'Air Traffic Controller' episodes and the 'Shout It Out' game) and was an Anthem Awards finalist in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, with a nomination for the Community Voice Anthem Award.
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Hero Elementary
An Anthem and Telly Award-winning production by Twin Cities PBS, designed to give kids ages 5-8 the tools to solve problems using their superpowers of science. Dr. Hayakawa served as research lead, overseeing formative and summative research and evaluation for this multiplatform educational series, which premiered nationally on PBS KIDS in June 2020. Her research demonstrated how educational media can transform children's perception of autism and neurodiversity.
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Executive Producer and Director of Child Development and Research
Momo Hayakawa Koenigs
Saint Paul, MN • momo.koenigs@gmail.com
Executive Producer and Director of Child Development and Research. Built a national children's educational program to 62M streams in 6 months by integrating learning science, product thinking, and evidence-based iteration.
Core Competencies
- Product Vision
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Japanese Fluency
- UI/UX Design
- Educational Measurement & Assessment
- EdTech Product Development
- Curriculum Design
- Community Engagement
- Developmental Science
Experience
Executive Producer / Managing Director of Children's Media
Twin Cities PBS • 2020–Present
- Secured and directed a $39M U.S. Department of Education Ready to Learn grant as lead author and PI; created the product vision and led development of Skillsville, a national educational multimedia program designed to enhance children's executive function skills.
- Owned end-to-end product & research vision for Skillsville: TV series, 15 interactive games, learning platform, websites, role-play/analog games, e-books, and virtual field trips.
- Assembled and led a 100+ person, five-department cross-functional team (TV, Digital Games, Curriculum & Content, Community Engagement, Research) to execute the project's creative vision.
- Defined research plan, embedded learning science and UX research from formative through summative evaluation; aligned to child-development frameworks and executive-function outcomes; translated insights into future iterations.
- Served as the program's primary spokesperson, building alignment and buy-in across stakeholders and partners; presented at national conferences and co-authored publications.
- Recognition: Four Telly Awards for Skillsville & Government Performance and Results Act score of 4.7/5.0.
Educational and Learning Analytics Research Manager
Twin Cities PBS • 2017–2020
- Designed and executed efficacy studies—including QED studies and Randomized Controlled Trials—to guide development of the hit PBS KIDS science series, Hero Elementary (TV, digital games, outreach).
- Delivered data-driven recommendations to Television, Digital, and Content teams, optimizing distribution across PBS KIDS, PBS KIDS Games app, and PBS KIDS Video app.
- Ensured standards alignment (NGSS, Common Core) and developmental appropriateness via mixed-methods research, usability testing, and iterative prototyping; partnered with project director and content teams to convert findings into release requirements.
Research Associate & Project Manager
Human Capital Research Collaborative, Univ. of Minnesota • 2012–2017
- Led complex, multi-year impact evaluations of a school-based intervention (design, data collection, analysis).
- Combined quantitative and qualitative data (needs assessments, longitudinal datasets) to design and implement an evidence-based school–family–community intervention deployed across the Midwest.
- Analyzed data and published findings across peer-reviewed journals, books, and practitioner outlets; translated results for non-technical stakeholders.
Education
Ph.D., Developmental Psychology
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
M.A., Demographic & Social Analysis
University of California, Irvine
B.A., Social Psychology & Criminology
University of California, Irvine
Publications
Research, articles, and written works
Transforming children's perception of autism through the media: The impact of a PBS KIDS television series
Eunice H. Chow & Momo Hayakawa
A research study examining how the PBS KIDS show 'Hero Elementary' impacts children's understanding and perception of autism. The study demonstrates how educational media can be used to promote positive attitudes and understanding of neurodiversity among young viewers.
Generative Mechanisms of Early Childhood Interventions to Well-Being
Reynolds, A. J., Mondi, C. F., Ou, S., & Hayakawa, M.
Examines the mechanisms through which early childhood interventions contribute to long-term well-being outcomes.
Multi-Site Expansion of an Early Childhood Intervention and School Readiness
Reynolds, A. J., Richardson, B. A., Hayakawa, M., Englund, M. M., & Ou, S. R.
Evaluates the effectiveness of expanding an early childhood intervention program across multiple sites and its impact on school readiness.
Strategies for Scaling Up: Promoting Parent Involvement through Family-School-Community Partnerships
Hayakawa, M. & Reynolds, A. J.
Explores effective strategies for scaling up parent involvement programs through collaborative partnerships between families, schools, and communities.
Not Just Academics: Paths of Longitudinal Effects from Parent Involvement to Substance Abuse in Emerging Adulthood
Hayakawa, M., Giovanelli, A., Englund, M., et al.
Investigates the long-term effects of early parent involvement on substance abuse outcomes in emerging adulthood, revealing pathways beyond academic achievement.
Effective Partnerships in School Reform: Lessons Learned From the Midwest Child-Parent Center Expansion
Hayakawa, M., Englund, M., Candee, A., et al.
Documents lessons learned from expanding the Child-Parent Center program across the Midwest, highlighting effective partnership strategies in school reform.
Key Elements and Strategies of Effective Early Childhood Education Programs
Hayakawa, M. & Reynolds, A. J.
Reviews key elements and strategies that enhance child well-being in early childhood education programs, drawing from field research and evidence-based practices.
The Longitudinal Process of Early Parent Involvement on Student Achievement: A Path Analysis
Hayakawa, C. M., Englund, M.M., Warner-Richter, M.N. et al.
Uses path analysis to examine how early parent involvement influences student achievement over time.
Assessing the Validity of Minnesota School Readiness Indicators
Reynolds, A. J., Englund, M. M., Hayakawa, C. M., Hendricks, M., Ou, S., Rosenberger, A., Smerillo, N., & Warner-Richter, M.
Technical report assessing the validity and reliability of school readiness indicators used in Minnesota.
Presentations
Talks, conferences, and speaking engagements
She's just like me!: How to Develop Character Designs Reflective of Diverse Children
Hayakawa, M. & Li, L.
Paper presented on developing character designs that authentically reflect diverse children, exploring how representation in educational media impacts children's identification with characters.
Findings and Implications From a Digital Science Notebook Playtest
Hayakawa, M. & Ramirez, D.
Poster presentation sharing findings from playtesting a digital science notebook, with implications for educational game design.
Using NGSS to Design Educational Games for Multiple Grade Levels
Hayakawa, M. & Ramirez, D.
Paper presented on leveraging Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) to create educational games that work across multiple grade levels.
Launch Skillsville: Help K–2 Students Learn About Careers
Momo Hayakawa, Ph.D. & Jennifer R. Curry, Ph.D.
Presentation on Skillsville, a free program funded by the Department of Education's Ready to Learn grant and developed by Twin Cities PBS for teaching elementary students about careers. Includes research foundation, lesson plans, digital games, e-books, television episodes, and hands-on activities.
Media Mentions
Press coverage and media appearances
TPT Unleashes the Superpowers of Science in an Ambitious New Preschool Series
Momo Hayakawa, Ph.D. research associate with Ready to Learn, tests responses to 'Hero Elementary' with first- and second-graders. The educational cartoon was developed by Twin Cities Public Television with a $36.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
Department of Education Funds TPT's New Project 'Mashopolis'
Momo Hayakawa, project director for Mashopolis, discusses TPT's transmedia research and engagement plan ensuring all young children have access to educational tools that help them prepare for school readiness and lifelong learning.
Momo Hayakawa on Kids' Future
Featured in the American Psychological Association's Monitor on Psychology discussing the intersection of psychology, games, and children's development.
Growing Up with Japan's Daily National Exercises
Momo Hayakawa-Koenigs shares her experience growing up doing Japan's legendary daily national exercises and how it shaped her approach to community and wellness.