Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Nelly Kaakaty.
Hi Dr. Kaakaty, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Hi! Thank you so much for having me. I’m Nelly–and I actually never thought I would end up where I am today.
Remember taking spelling tests as a kid? I remember that my homework on one of the days leading up to the spelling test would be to write the words three times each. My dad would have me write them six times each. I was always taught to work twice as hard as everyone else. 20+ years later, I have a Ph.D. and am a pretty good speller.
I joke about that, but for a long time, I believed that working hard always translated to success–better grades, more money, an improved life. It wasn’t until my younger brother came along that I realized learning does not come easily to everyone, and school is not the magical place I thought it was. My younger brother really struggled in school. What started out as a kid who was curious and charismatic turned into a kid who was seen as disruptive and problematic. There were failing grades, suspensions, repeating 8th grade, and eventually dropping out of high school. I’ve seen first-hand how academic struggle can affect an entire family.
That’s what motivated me to do what I do today. I always knew my brother was capable. I never had any doubts. I always knew he was smart. That he could do anything. He just never got the support that he needed in school, to believe that he actually was smart and capable, that he really could do anything. Instead of being seen as a kid who needed help, he was seen as someone who couldn’t be helped. People thought he was just giving them a hard time when really, he was having a hard time.
I spent the last ten years working in schools as a reading interventionist and learning specialist. At one point, I worked for a literacy intervention program that turned away kids who were considered to be “too far” behind in reading, and I knew it was time to leave. I set off to graduate school to find out why programs that were supposed to help kids, didn’t help kids. I wanted to get to the root of it all. I was accepted into the educational psychology doctoral program at Texas A&M University-Commerce. I did research in schools and specialized in writing interventions. I worked really hard–did a ton of research, taught college classes, and created interventions for students who were considered “behind” and interventions worked. After earning my Ph.D., I spent six years working as a learning specialist in Dallas schools. I taught small classes and continued my intervention work and focused on executive functioning skills. That’s when I saw huge gains from those who were considered “behind.” Then, I started my best job yet being a busy mom of two. I knew I wanted to build a career around my family, so I started my own business, Learning with Dr. K, to continue to support kids and families, with the flexibility to care for my own too.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think the biggest obstacle I have faced on this journey is believing I could even do it. I always saw myself on a “traditional” path-go to school, get a job, the end. I am a daughter of Egyptian immigrants, and I think that “traditional’ route is what my parents encouraged because it’s all they knew; it’s what they thought would be safe and assure my success. It took years to unlearn that definition of success, and have the courage to dream of a different life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Learning with Dr. K?
I started Learning with Dr. K because I wanted to offer academic support that could truly make a difference in the lives of children and families. My goal is to uncover the root cause of learning challenges to create lifelong change. I have worked in many schools and often academic support programs are generic; this is not. I believe no two students are the same, so the work I do is uniquely designed for the individual learner.
I provide 1:1 personalized learning support in the areas of reading/writing or executive functioning (think time management, study skills, organization). I also provide comprehensive educational evaluations that provide insights into how people learn and ways to support their learning (both in school and outside of school).
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think my unwavering belief in people’s potential is what sets me apart. I believe everyone has the ability to learn and the route to understanding sometimes just looks different, but I’m confident I can help find that path.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://learningwithdrk.com/
- Instagram: @learningwithdr.k
