On July 5, 1966, Kellie Ann McAlum Babineaux was born in Baytown, Texas. She was the first child born to Michael Dennis McAlum and Charlie Sue Gartman McAlum. Two other children were born, Suzanne Denise McAlum and Deanna Marie McAlum Landry. During kindergarten, in 1971, Kellie Babineaux moved to Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia. Her father was employed by ARAMCO. They lived in Abqaiq for four and a half years. During sixth grade her family lived in Iran with Fluor International. From age eleven to age twelve the family moved to Secunda, South Africa for a year, still with Fluor International. Before, during, and after these job assignments overseas, they lived in Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana and California. Kellie Babineaux began college at Louisiana State University in 1984 after graduating from Slidell High School. Her marraige to Brian Joseph Babineaux occured on July 13, 1990. Their first child, Brittany Reagan Babineaux, was born in 1992. The second child, Matthew Joseph Babineaux,was born in 1996. Their third child, Benjamin Paul Babineaux, was born on November 30 in 1997. It was not until 1995 that she received her bachelor's degree working her way through college as a waitress. In 1996 she was hired as a teacher at Galvez Primary School in Prairiville, Louisiana, by Regina Thomas. After receiving certification as a Nationally Certified Teacher, she earned her Master's degree from NSULA. Her master's degree is in Curriculum and Instruction for the Teacher Leader with an endorsement for National Board Certification. She is currently enrolled at NSULA woking on classes towards a certification in gifted education. Her goal is to continue the use of rich literature to enhance the learning of all students as first modeled by gifted instructor Debi Buco at Galvez Primary School. Her strengths lie in teaching fourth grade students to use the writing process to create compositions with an emphasis on revision. Her goal is to teach students to use writing as a communication tool in the 21st century and to encourage reading for a lifetime of pleasure.