Kelly Adams

Kelly Adams (K.L. Going) teaches English Language Arts at the secondary and college level. She has a Master's Degree in Writing from Spalding University and graduated summa cum laude from Eastern University with a BA in Sociology and Religious Studies. She holds microcredentials in the Science of Reading (SUNY New Paltz) and Teaching with Love and Logic. Kelly served as a board member for the CoGx: Science of Learning program and has a certificate in Montessori training. 

Before coming to Homestead, Kelly began her career as an award-winning author whose numerous books for children and teens have been published worldwide and adapted for film and stage. As an author, she has spoken at schools, libraries, and universities around the world. She's also taught workshops through the Highlights Foundation and served as a judge for SCBWI's Golden Kite Book Award.

Her first novel, Fat Kid Rules the World, was named a Michael Printz Honor Book by the American Library Association, and was included on YALSA’s Best Books for Young Adults list and their list of Best Books for the Past Decade. Her books have been Booksense picks, Scholastic Book Club choices, Junior Library Guild selections, and winners of state book awards. They’ve been featured by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Kirkus, and the Children’s Book Council as Best Books of the Year. Her novel, The Liberation of Gabriel King, was an International Reading Association notable pick. Fat Kid Rules the World was made into an independent film that premiered at the SXSW film festival, where it won an Audience Award. 

In addition to writing and teaching, Kelly does freelance editing and is a mom to one of Homestead’s high school students (by far her most important achievement!).