Ki to Success (K2S) is an educational initiative founded by an experienced educator with over a decade of tutoring experience and two years of lead teaching in NYC public schools. Through her academic endeavors as well as her various positions in district, charter, and private schools, K2S’s founder Kiana has gained valuable insight into the pitfalls of the school system. This insight juxtaposes a scholarly exploration of the issue, culminating in a thesis titled "Disrupting the School-to-Prison Pipeline through Critical, Identity-based Pedagogy and Practices," which demonstrates a profound understanding of the systemic nature of achievement gaps and educational oppression overall. Recognizing schools’ shortcomings in meeting the scholarly and socio-emotional needs of diverse learners—whether through their enormous class sizes, teacher shortages (and burnout), implicit biases, prioritization of bureaucracy, or an overemphasis on traditional learning strategies, just to name a few—Kiana ardently bloomed into an advocate for abolitionist teaching. Ultimately, her comprehensive studies about education in conjunction with her extensive tutoring expertise and formal teaching experience shape the foundation of Ki to Success’s approach to education.

Embracing the leadership of renowned scholars like Dr. Bettina Love and Dr. Gholdy Muhammad, Kiana is deeply committed to pursuing educational equity by creating a sanctuary that fosters inquiry-based knowledge acquisition, nurtures students' sense of self, and instills a genuine love of learning. This approach is designed to stimulate students' natural curiosity, enhance their critical thinking abilities, and develop their skills in making interdisciplinary and personal connections. By encouraging students to ask questions, explore ideas, and discover answers for themselves, K2S aims to cultivate a deeper, more engaging learning experience. This method not only promotes academic growth but also cultivates the intellectual curiosity that is essential for lifelong learning.

At its core, Ki to Success is committed to making rigorous, problem-posing education accessible to all students; it intends to do this through a sliding-scale fee structure. However, to achieve this ambitious goal and make a broader impact, K2S requires additional support. Currently, the business is solely funded by its founder, a low-income, BIPOC woman living in the expensive Big Apple. Her personal savings are not sufficient to fuel the expansive vision she has for K2S. This is where public support becomes crucial. Donations to K2S will directly contribute to sponsoring the education of young students across New York City, helping to bridge the gap between the founder's resources, families’ incomes, and the organization's potential to affect change in the lives of many students.

As K2S is a newly established business, its online presence is still in development. The website and social media pages are currently under construction, reflecting the early stages of the organization's growth. However, this does not diminish Kiana’s enthusiasm and readiness to engage with interested stakeholders. She is eager to discuss her extensive experience in education, as well as share the mission and vision that drive Ki to Success. Furthermore, recognizing that her online presence is a work in progress, the founder is more than willing to provide references to validate her expertise and the potential of her educational initiative. Though the formal digital platforms are still being built, Kiana’s openness to personal communication underscores her commitment to transparency and her passion for the project.

Getting Ki to Success off the ground!