Meet Daniela Feldhausen
Founder of Kids Up Reading Tutors. Literacy Specialist. Former Attorney. Parent of a (Formerly) Struggling Reader.
A Founder Who Understands Reading as a Parent and as an Educator
Daniela Feldhausen is the founder of Kids Up Reading Tutors and dedicated to transforming students' and families' lives with research-based 1-on-1 reading and spelling instruction for students in grades 1–12.
She is a UC Berkeley-trained attorney with a Master’s in Special Education. Daniela built Kids Up for students who haven't gotten the instruction they needed at school. Her approach is analytical and highly individualized: understand what a student already knows, identify what they still need to learn, and teach precisely those skills, clearly and efficiently.
Today, Daniela leads the Kids Up team and still tutors a few students personally.
"I called Daniela at the beginning of this year (3rd grade) and my son has been working with her on Zoom four times a week after school. In September Daniela told me “Oh, we’ll have him reading chapter books by December” and I couldn’t believe it. But here we are in December, and he is indeed reading chapter books. The intensive tutoring has been entirely worth it, and so confidence building for Paul."
3rd grade, Washington, DC
Daniela's Story
Daniela came to reading instruction in a roundabout way.
Before founding Kids Up Reading Tutors, she spent more than 25 years as a lawyer in Washington, DC. Language has always been an important part of her life. She grew up speaking English and German, learned other languages over the years, and enjoys language-based games (Spelling Bee, anyone?) and discovering the connections between words, sounds, and meanings connect across languages.
When her oldest son was 4, Daniela started volunteering in a public school reading program. Then one of her own children struggled with reading. He wasn't dyslexic. He simply hadn't gotten the instruction he needed. That experience changed how Daniela thought about reading. It showed her how much good instruction matters, and how easily bright, capable children can become frustrated when the instruction doesn't match their needs.
At a friend's suggestion, Daniela took a 1-week course on the Science of Reading and was hooked. She quit her career as a lawyer, got an M.S. in Special Education (always thinking about how to apply what she was learning to kids with dyslexia) and completed her Orton-Gillingham training in 2020.
Kids Up Reading Tutors grew from that path: Daniela’s love of language, her legal and analytical background, her experience as a parent, and her belief that every struggling reader deserves instruction that is clear, structured, and specific to what that child actually needs. Her experience with her son is still at the heart of how Kids Up works: every child gets instruction built for them, not a program they're made to fit.
"Daniela was instrumental in advancing my daughter's ability to read. She helped guide us through a diagnosis, getting help through the school, and encouraging my daughter to flourish. I highly recommend her services to everyone and anyone."
2nd Grade, Seattle, WA
Credentials
Daniela Feldhausen, Founder of Kids Up Reading Tutors
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B.S., Business Administration, UC Berkeley (1987)
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J.D., UC Berkeley (1992)
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Teaching Reading Effectively (a weeklong course in the Science of Reading for teachers) (2018)
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M.S., Special Education (mild-moderate disabilities), UA (2020)
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Orton-Gillingham (2020)
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Founder, Kids Up Reading Tutors (formerly Kids Up Reading Coaches)
Work With Daniela and Her Team at Kids Up Reading Tutors
If your child or teen is struggling with reading, spelling, dyslexia, or dysgraphia, Daniela will talk with you, do an initial evaluation and develop a Literacy Plan tailored to your child's specific needs. Then, one of the awesome tutors on our team will teach them the skills they need to learn!
To be clear - we don't just teach reading. We help families understand their child's needs, work with schools, and guide parents through what can be a confusing and emotional process.
No generic programs. No one-size-fits-all sequences. Clear, targeted instruction built specifically for your student.
Book a free parent call to talk through your child’s needs and learn whether Kids Up is the right fit for your family.