Academics Plus: Educational consulting, Life Coaching and ADHD Coaching for adults.

Our Story Academics Plus is an Atlanta-based educational consulting and coaching practice founded by Katie Whittelsey, who holds an M.S.Ed. in Theory and Practice in Teacher Education and a B.S. in Special Education from the University of Tennessee. For nearly two decades, she has guided families through private school admissions, learning differences, and parenting challenges, drawing on expertise honed through two terms on the National Board of Directors for the Learning Disabilities Association of America and as a Professional Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association. A Certified Life Coach through Light University with additional coursework through the Professional Christian Coaching Institute, Katie also trademarked the Learning Checkup™ to position children’s learning assessment on par with wellness checkups. Deeply committed to global education equity, she founded the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Education Cures to develop early learning centers and teacher training programs in developing countries such as Sierra Leone. The practice operates from a belief that every child is a teachable student and that early, aggressive intervention for learning challenges paired with hope and flexibility produces measurable results. Programs & Trainings 🎓 Learning Checkup™ — A foundational assessment service that evaluates how a child learns best, matching individual learning styles with tailored strategies and appropriate school environments to build confident, capable, lifelong learners. The assessment draws on expertise in cognitive and academic testing to inform educational decision-making. 🎓 Early Years Package — Designed for parents of children aged 2.5 to late 3 years old, this in-home Preschool Learning Checkup includes the Tests of Early Cognitive and Academic Development, followed by a Zoom roundtable to discuss findings and personalized recommendations, plus bi-weekly Zoom coaching calls with Katie focused on preliminary school planning and a written report. 🎓 School Admissions and Search — Comprehensive educational coaching for families navigating Atlanta’s competitive private and public school landscape, including strategic guidance for applicants to top-tier schools and specialized support for children with learning challenges to identify environments that honor their unique profiles. 🎓 Private School Admissions + Parent Coaching — Ongoing, thoughtful support for families managing both the admissions process and the day-to-day realities of parenting, ensuring clarity, confidence, and steady progress through complex decisions. 🎓 Reclaim Coaching Package — A sustained one-on-one coaching program for overwhelmed parents, particularly mothers, addressing educational advocacy, ADHD management within the family, school admissions stress, and identity reclamation, with strategy-building that keeps the parent at the center. 🎓 ADHD Coaching for Adults — Practical, system-based coaching for adults with ADHD who feel overwhelmed by daily demands, focusing on creating organizational systems, reducing overwhelm, and restoring forward momentum with clarity. 🎓 Life Coaching for Young Adults — A structured package helping young adults develop ownership of their decisions through skills in time management, communication, and stress management, while clarifying personal values, strengths, and long-term goals to improve decision-making and future vision. 🎓 Coaching for Women — Delivered through the affiliated Maiden to Matriarch platform, offering dedicated coaching spaces for women navigating personal and transitional life stages. Specialties 🎯 Private school admissions strategy and placement 🎯 ADHD coaching and executive function support 🎯 Educational consulting for learning differences including dyslexia, autism, language processing disorder, and developmental delays 🎯 Parent coaching and advocacy for overwhelmed mothers 🎯 Young adult transitions and life skills development 🎯 Early childhood cognitive and academic assessment for ages 2.5 and up 🎯 Special education law and school-based advocacy 🎯 Learning profile interpretation and school-environment matching Methods & Approach The practice integrates formal psychoeducational assessment tools—specifically the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities and Academic Achievement (WJ IV), the Test of Silent Contextual Reading Fluency (TOSCRF), and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)—with empathetic, ongoing coaching relationships. Katie’s methodology blends special-education expertise, neuroscience-informed perspectives drawn from her family background, and training from the Professional Christian Coaching Institute to create efficient systems and processes tailored to each family. Whether working through admissions timelines or ADHD management, the approach prioritizes intentionality, early intervention, teaching clients to always "do the next right thing," and maintaining hope and flexibility throughout the journey. Who It's For Families in Atlanta and globally seeking clarity on private or public school admissions; parents of children with learning differences who need advocacy and strategic school matching; overwhelmed mothers reclaiming identity while managing educational and emotional family needs; adults with ADHD seeking practical systems for daily life; young adults requiring transitional life coaching for college, career, or independence; parents of toddlers aged 2.5 to late 3 years preparing for preschool and kindergarten readiness; and corporations seeking educational or coaching consulting. Facilities & Practical Info Services are delivered through a hybrid format: in-person assessments conducted in the client’s home for the Early Years Package, in-office meetings at the Atlanta location, and virtual sessions via Zoom for coaching and roundtable consultations. The practice also serves as an SSAT Testing Site at 1201 West Peachtree, Suite 2300, Atlanta, GA 30309. Prospective clients can schedule a complimentary 15-minute introductory call through an online Acuity Scheduling system, with additional appointment requests available for Learning Checkups and School Placement Packages. Location Address: 3401 Northside Pkwy NW # 240, Atlanta, GA 30327, United States Hours: See website for schedule The "+" ✅ Nearly two decades of specialized expertise at the intersection of special education, admissions strategy, and family coaching ✅ Trademarked Learning Checkup™ protocol paired with validated assessment instruments including WJ IV, TOSCRF, and BRIEF interpreted by a trained specialist ✅ Dual capacity to serve elite admissions track families and neurodivergent learners who need differentiated school placement ✅ Active nonprofit founder of Education Cures demonstrating a deep, practiced commitment to global educational equity and early learning infrastructure ✅ Comprehensive continuum of care from early childhood through young adulthood and parent support, all under one practice roof