Services and Clients

Deborah Kennedy brings expertise in adult education, language learning, educator professional development, and advocacy to her work with nonprofit organizations and government agencies that serve the well-being of the community and its members.

Interactive Presentations

Presentations use a collaborative approach that builds on participants’ existing knowledge and engages them in applying new skills to their own contexts. Presentations are one hour in length and can take place in face-to-face, online, or hybrid formats.

• Words We Don’t Use and Why We Don’t Use Them
  Explores ways that labels can encode a deficit- or asset-oriented perspective, and enables participants to make active choices about the language they use with and about their learners. Learn more =>
• The Power of the Asset-Oriented Perspective
  Defines the principles of asset-oriented instruction and outlines ways of recognizing and using adult learners’ strengths and knowledge to promote success in teaching and learning. Learn more =>
• Advocating for Results in Adult Education
  Outlines different types of advocacy and empowers participants to combine data on outcomes with persuasive learner stories in ways that connect with audience interests and priorities. Learn more =>
• The Adult Education Landscape in the United States
  Outlines adult education service models at federal, state, and local/community levels, describes ways adult learners interact with the adult education landscape, and empowers participants to engage actively with programs and learners in their communities. Learn more =>

Professional Development Workshops

Workshops are designed around tasks and functions that participants need to carry out in their professional work, so that each participant ends the workshop with a usable work-related product. Workshop length ranges from two half-day sessions to three full-day sessions, depending on the objectives of the participants and the depth of understanding they wish to achieve. Workshops can take place in face-to-face, online, or hybrid formats.

• Learner-Centered Instruction
• Outcomes-Oriented Lesson Planning
• Formative Assessment for Learner Success
• Writing for Reader Access

Editorial Services

• Editing of books, articles, and online materials in adult education, language skills development, language assessment, and related topic areas
• Grant proposal writing

Technical Assistance

• Guidance for government agencies on effective communication of information and resources

Client List

Past and present Key Words clients.

• ACE of Florida
• ACTFL
• American Institutes for Research
• Assessment and Evaluation Language Resource Center
• BoardSource
• Bureau of Consumer Protection, U.S. Federal Trade Commission
• Business Basics
• Cardea Communications
• Center for Advanced Proficiency in English
• Center for Applied Linguistics
• Co-nect Schools, Inc.
• State of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
• Council for Global Education
• Coupa Software, Inc.
• Digital City (AOL)
• Dual Language Education of New Mexico
• Episcopal Diocese of Washington
• FCIB, the Finance, Credit, and International Business Association
• Four Points Editing
  GALILEO, Georgia’s Virtual Library
• Grammarians, Inc.
• The Hawthorn Group
• Kratos Learning Solutions
• Learning and Leadership in Families
• Luminary Labs
• Manhattan Strategy Group
• McFarland & Co., Publishers
• National Association for Gifted Children
• National Capital Language Resource Center
• National Center for Literacy Education
• National Center for Nonprofit Boards
• National Coalition for Literacy
• National Foreign Language Center
• Randall Funding & Development
• SRI International
• TESOL International
• The Thomas Circle Singers
  Washington DC Area TESOL (WATESOL)
• Winning Proposals, Inc.