Meet the Author

Dorothy "Nell" Betts, born in Shreveport, Louisiana, draws inspiration from her close relationship with her grandparents and the value they placed on family. Her family moved to KCK, in 1977, where she attended the last school year of Sumner High school. She graduated from Wyandotte High School Later in life, she found love and built a blended family, resulting in sixteen grandchildren. She made the selfless choice to stay at home to care for her youngest son, who had special needs at the time. During this period, she opened and ran a daycare, pursued child development classes, and earned a BA in Child and Family Studies from Park University in Parkville, Missouri. Her dedication to her family and education is commendable.

Once her son was old enough to attend public school, he was placed on an Individual Education  Plan (IEP),  to address his delays and after watching how the staff supported her son, it inspired her to apply for a job. She was hired as a Para-professional and work with a Special Education teacher who encouraged her to soar further in the field of Early childhood.  After six years of being a Para-Professional,  she was given the opportunity to serve in her community as a classroom specialist in a head start site to initiate and help develop the public school early childhood literacy curriculum. 

She noticed when she read books to the children they lite up with amazement and wonder.   Books became their escape  from everything around them.  Diving into author studies, looking at illustrations and noticing how words move throughout the pages captured her as well. 

Years after that experience she decided to pursue a MA in Early Childhood Unified, where she was qualified to teach general education and Special Education in the school system. She is a member of National Education Association, Black Educators Rock , graduated from Emporiia Cum Laude with a 3.65 GPA and  have had several poems published throughout her journey but this freshman publication of Layla Louise is her crowning moment and there is more to learn about who she was, is,  and to become.