The spark began with a simple question—what would it take for students who are too often overlooked to receive support that truly moves the needle? Karim Abouelnaga, chief executive officer of PRACTICE, turned that question into a blueprint for scaling culturally responsive, data-driven tutoring that delivers gains schools can measure.
Abouelnaga led PRACTICE from promising pilot to trusted system partner. The organization refined its “Education Champion” model, recruiting and training diverse tutors from local communities who build trust, coach agency and personalize instruction in real time. District relationships deepened as programs produced better test scores, improved attendance and strengthened classroom engagement. The throughline is practical equity: support that fits students’ realities rather than forcing learners to fit a rigid program.
Inside the organization the future of work is intentional. Abouelnaga prepares students and staff for a world that prizes critical thinking, adaptability and collaboration. Learners gain confidence through consistent coaching while teams build data fluency without losing the human touch. Technology clarifies progress and informs decisions, yet relationships remain the engine that sustains momentum.
The entrepreneurial arc traces back to lived experience. Abouelnaga grew up in New York City schools and saw talent collide with barriers that policy alone could not fix. He built ventures to close that distance, then carried hard-won lessons forward: center community, prove impact, scale only what works. Those principles turned PRACTICE into a credible partner for districts and a voice in conversations about procurement and design. A Titan 100 Honoree, Abouelnaga shares that playbook on national stages to help others build mission-focused organizations that deliver results.
Over the next five years PRACTICE will support one million students with high-impact tutoring that is accessible and affordable. The team will deepen district partnerships, expand research-backed offerings and scale a digital learning layer that brings quality support to more families. Technology will serve transparency so teachers, caregivers and learners can see growth and understand the why behind every recommendation.
Abouelnaga’s insights have been featured at TED, SXSW EDU and ASU+GSV where he challenges leaders to align mission with evidence. Policy engagement has helped districts integrate tutoring that complements classrooms rather than compete with them. Yet the milestones he cites most often are quiet ones—a student who shows up ready, a parent who breathes easier, a teacher who sees a shift in participation. Those moments are the scoreboard that guides PRACTICE and the reason a venture born from one question now operates like a movement for opportunity that lasts.
