Dr. Kyley Pulphus-Smith
Founder | Principal (she/her)
Kyley is a mama, educator, and writer from New Orleans. She grew up cross the canal (The Lower 9) but recently moved to be with an Uptown boy. She received her BA in Communications from the University of New Orleans, and her MFA in Film Making from Florida State University. She conducted her doctoral work in Literacy Education with a writing pedagogy minor at Louisiana State University, and her daughter describes her best as a Reading and Writing Doctor. She is currently the education director of KID smART, an arts education organization promoting joyful learning for young people.
Kyley is an award-winning children’s film writer/director. After working in children’s television in Los Angeles, she returned to New Orleans to pursue a career in education. She was a skilled classroom teacher and teacher coach. Kyley was also a teacher consultant for the Greater New Orleans Writing Project, and was the founding program director at 826 New Orleans, the youth writing nonprofit. Under her stewardship, Kyley supported thousands of young people in strengthening their writing skills. She oversaw the publishing of 30 books of youth writing, worked with dozens of teachers, and facilitated many professional development workshops.
Kyley has received several honors, most recently being awarded the International Literacy Association’s Helen M. Robinson Grant. She was also recognized as one of Gambit's 40 under 40 and a Millennial Educator of the Year Finalist.
Outside of work, Kyley enjoys spending time with her loved ones, a good snoball, and dancing, especially to brass band music. You can see Kyley’s CV here.