Alumna teaches students across Ohio through her network of tutors
Alumna teaches students across Ohio through her network of tutors
Carole (Kelty) Richards has been building a network of support for decades. Through her company North Coast Education Services (NCES), Richards has helped thousands of learners since launching the tutoring company in 1985.
Studying elementary education at Miami University, Richards graduated in 1971 with a growing desire to help people in her community. She taught for five years in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District before pursuing her vision of providing high-quality educational support to students in her community – especially students with learning differences.
Richards then began NCES in her dining room with just $200. Now, NCES employs six staff in its Northeast Ohio office and another 300 tutors across the state.
The company, deemed “The Education Problem Solvers,” uses degreed professionals – including active and retired teachers, area professionals, and Ph.D. holders. NCES also offers the acclaimed Richards Learning Systems reading program, authored by Richards and named Best Literacy Program by Education Insider Magazine in 2025.
Richards said she considers herself a born entrepreneur; her first enterprise was a ballet studio in her basement at the age of 13. At the age of 16, she was hired by her high school’s night school to teach 150 ballet students for $6.50 an hour — more than five times the minimum wage of $1.25 in 1965.
One of Richards’ proudest accomplishments is the creation of “Sammy and the Magical Reading Chest”, a 77-episode video series that trains the teachers at the same time the students learn to read. Based on the Science of Reading, each five-minute episode combines puppets, animation, and children while providing classroom instruction for teachers and engaging reading lessons for students.
Richards’ career has not been without challenges. She says government bureaucracy in education is one of the greatest obstacles to her business, but those challenges also highlight her tenacity and problem-solving skills.
“Be tenacious and find a problem to solve,” Richards said. “My problem to solve is literacy.”
Her message to aspiring entrepreneurs and educators is simple: “Never give up on a meaningful goal but recognize when it is time to move on from an idea that has no workable solution.” Passion is essential, she believes, but it must be balanced with persistence, flexibility, and sound judgment.
—
EHS Innovates
Innovation thrives at the intersection of passion and purpose. EHS Innovates brings together students, alumni, faculty, and industry partners to explore how entrepreneurial thinking can drive meaningful change in education, health, and society. Through workshops, mentorship, and real-world challenges, we create opportunities to develop solutions that address pressing issues in our fields. Whether you're launching a venture, looking to collaborate, or simply curious about how innovation shapes your discipline, EHS Innovates is your gateway to making an impact.