Shelly Keller Advises Parents to Keep Eyes Open for Learning Opportunities

Shelly Keller, president and co-owner of the Miracle Kids Success Academy of Jonesboro

Before the opening of her company’s first location in December 2009, Shelly Keller worked for Pediatric Specialty Care Inc. She began her career as a speech-language pathologist before moving into administrative roles. Now, her Jonesboro-based Miracle Kids Success Academy is a parent company that operates nine early intervention day treatment facilities in Arkansas: four under the Miracle Kids moniker and five under the Kids Unlimited Learning Academy name. The facilities serve special needs children up to age 6 all year and school-aged special needs children in the summer.

Keller has received the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Award for Continuing Education. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, vice president of speech-language pathology services for the Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association and serves on ASHA’s Medicaid committee.

Keller earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1997 and a master’s degree in communication disorders in 1998, both from Arkansas State University. She served for eight years in the Arkansas Army National Guard.

How do you attract workers in a tight job market in northeast Arkansas?

We have clinics in seven different Arkansas counties and each county has its own challenges. In northeast Arkansas, and all the counties we serve, we participate in job fairs, advertise on major job boards and advertise on social media. And we are always looking for new ways to attract employees.

What attracted you to this business?

I kind of fell into it. I was eager to start working as a speech-language pathologist as soon as I graduated college, so I accepted a job in early intervention months before graduating. The person who hired me became a great friend and we moved up the ladder together. Although it may not seem like it, there are a lot of moving parts in early intervention day treatment services. Both of us really understood those parts and we are both in the same business today, just different companies.

What are the top strategies parents can employ to ensure that their children love learning?

No. 1: Let them learn through play. Play is integral to child development. Through play, children learn social skills, problem-solving, new vocabulary and they learn new motor skills. 

No. 2: Read to them. But don’t just read the words, talk about the pictures. Let them pet the dog and smell the flowers. Then let the children do the reading or storytelling. Many concepts are learned this way.

Describe the biggest challenges a company like yours faces on a daily basis.

Regulation changes. They are seemingly constant.

What obstacles have you had to overcome as a woman running a business?

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My abilities have been underestimated a few times, but I eventually earned the respect of those who underestimated me.

What would you say to other women seeking leadership roles, in any industry?

If a woman’s talent is in leadership, I would advise her to do it. Women should always follow their passions, regardless of what those passions are.