Kelly, originally from South Africa, moved to Charlottesville, Virginia in 2018 with her husband, Shaun, and their two sons, Scott and Dean. After spending two years living and working in the Middle East, Shaun joined The University of Virginia (UVA), which brought Kelly’s family to America. Over the past 23 years, Kelly’s career has been dedicated to working with children and parents across various age groups, skill levels, and nationalities. Her diverse background includes roles in the classroom, private practice, and tutoring. Kelly has successfully owned and operated a math-tutoring school in South Africa, served as the head coordinator of a preschool in Saudi Arabia, and worked as a kindergarten teacher at St. Anne’s Belfield School.

Kelly holds a BA degree in Psychology and Communications from the University of South Africa and a Post Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education. Her professional certifications include:

• The Responsive Classroom Certification
• Orton-Gillingham Science of Reading Certification
ADHD Professional (ADHD-CCSP) Intensive Training Certification in Evidence-Based Strategies from Managing ADHD Across the Lifespan (PESI)
• Executive Functioning: Teaching Children Organizational Skills (PDR)
• Certified Parenting Coach from the JAI Institute for Parenting
• Certified as a Babies@Play Mom/Baby Coach

As an experienced Math tutor for elementary and middle school learners, Kelly also specializes in reading, helping children gain confidence and a love for reading and writing. Recently, Kelly has embraced a new calling to become a beacon of hope and support for families seeking guidance on their parenting journey. Having recently obtained her parent coaching certification from the JAI Institute for Parenting, she serves as a bridge between parenting struggles, offering a soft place for parents to find space for safety, honesty, creativity, and peaceful parenting transformations.