Meet Kathy
& How Growing Kiddos Came to Life
Kathy Quintela
Founder & Lead Educator
Hi there! I’m Kathy - a literacy educator, passionate storyteller, and founder of Growing Kiddos.
For over 15 years, I’ve had the privilege of working with children and families in diverse school communities across the country from New York City public schools to independent schools on the Upper East and Upper West Side. I hold a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Special Education from Fordham University and an Ed.M. in School Leadership from Bank Street College of Education. I’m also trained in Montessori methods and progressive, child-centered frameworks. Most recently, I taught at a progressive charter school in the San Francisco Bay Area, where inquiry, joy, and equity shaped our classroom every day.
After stepping away from the classroom and pivoting into project management at a well-known Edtech company, I pressed pause to focus on my most important job yet: raising my two little ones, Eva and Ollie.
In the quiet (and chaos!) of those early years, Growing Kiddos began to take shape. It started as a dream scribbled in notebooks during nap time - a spark I couldn’t ignore. After a season of reflection, soul-searching, and one very persistent calling, I knew it was time to bring that dream to life.
Growing Kiddos is my return to what I love most: working with children, partnering with families, and sharing the magic of literacy - one story at a time.
Teaching Philosophy
My approach is structured and evidence based, but never cold or mechanical. I teach with warmth, clarity, and play because children deserve instruction that’s both effective and human.
Our Mission
I believe every child is a reader and writer in the making, and it’s our job as adults to help them discover that truth.
My teaching is grounded in the science of reading and informed by my background in education which means I pay close attention to what each child needs, both instructionally and emotionally.
Create learning experiences that are hands-on, inquiry-driven, and responsive.
Celebrate mistakes as part of the process and honor each child’s pace.
Notice the quiet, in-between breakthroughs and name them so children can see their own growth.
Build confidence alongside skills, so
kids don’t just learn literacy they begin to see themselves as capable learners.
3 Core Teaching Principles
ONE.
Every Child
is Capable
I start from the belief that all children can learn to read and write with the right support. I look for strengths first, then build targeted instruction around what each child needs without ever losing sight of their potential.
TWO.
Structure and Joy
Belong Together
I use structured, research backed literacy practices, paired with warmth, play and real conversation.
Lessons are clear and purposeful and children still get to feel like themselves while learning.
THREE.
Relationships are
the Foundation
Progress happens fastest when children feel known and cared for.
I invest in strong relationships with kids and their families so we can celebrate wins, navigate challenges, and grow together over time.