Location

Virginia, USA

Languages

English

Coaching SpecialtieS INCLUDE:

About This coach

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) in Corporate Education, 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 since moving to America she taught as a kindergarten teacher. 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 empowered parenting transformations.

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

Parent Coaching Feedback Review:

Kelly’s love for children and compassion for parents was evident in our very first meeting. She is an amazing listener, empathetic and so kind, and her background with early childhood education gives her a unique perspective. My husband and I have learned so much from working with her in the JAI parent coaching 12-week program, and our relationship with our children has improved immensely. The strategies we’ve learned help us feel empowered and in control instead of overwhelmed during the difficult moments. We are so grateful for the opportunity to have worked with her.

What Makes THEM Special?

I have been working in education and with families for 23 years. From having run my own Math Tutoring School, dealing with parent interaction, as well as teaching children of all ages. I have a degree in Psychology in Communication from the University of South Africa. I then completed my degree as an early childhood educator and taught in elementary schools in South Africa. Parent-teacher conferences were a highlight for me as I have always had a passion for helping and supporting parents. My family (husband and two sons) then moved to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia where I was the head coordinator of a preschool that 23 nationalities enrolled. I worked with these parents on a daily basis, as many of them had left their country of birth to follow work opportunities. It was a big transition for mothers and children and I was a support system for them. During this time I tutored children between the ages of 2 - 16 years of age in Math and English learning skills. After living in Saudi Arabia for two years, we moved to Virginia, USA. I volunteered in a preschool/lower school and middle school, interacting with children and parents on a daily basis. I have received green card status and work authorization and will receive USA citizenship in 2 years. People know me as an educator as well as a parent support, which is why I completed my JAI Parent Coaching Certification. I have a network across the world of parents who can use my services, and would like to coach internationally (however only in English). I have a passion for this work and have opened my own business called: Swimming Upstream Parent Coaching and Support. I also will continue to tutor children in Math and English from the surrounding schools in my town. I am very excited!

Ready to start parenting with peace and connection?