One-On-One Personalized HSPT Tutoring

Kevin earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, followed by a second Master’s degree from Northwestern University. He has over five years of experience as an educator and has served as an Admissions Counselor at Northwestern University and North Park University. Throughout the years, he has assisted over 600 students with their college applications.

As an admissions counselor, Kevin enjoys working with and guiding students through the application process. He was fortunate enough to have a sibling who went through the college application process before he attended college, but he knows that not every student is as lucky as he was. Kevin looks forward to assisting students through the process so they have the best chance of being accepted by their dream school! 

As a coach, Kevin is known for his empathy, understanding, and student-focused approach. His ability to stay calm in any situation, depth of knowledge, and reassuring affirmations ease students’ worries about their application. Kevin deeply cares about each student’s success and quickly builds rapport, creating a comfortable environment for sharing concerns and issues. Despite his friendly demeanor, he sets clear and concise goals and expectations to keep students on track.

One of Kevin’s greatest strengths as a coach is his ability to break down the application process into manageable pieces, empowering students to take ownership of their learning—a process he calls guided discovery. Through positive reinforcement and motivation, he ensures each student reaches their full potential.

In his free time, Kevin enjoys working out, reading, and completing puzzles. Some interesting facts about Kevin are that he learned to ice skate at only three years old and he met the President of Ireland and played with his dogs!

Tikiera earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Elizabeth City State University, followed by an MAT in Mathematics from RELAY Graduate School of Education. With seven years of experience teaching math, she has held various roles such as STEM Special Projects Lead, Lead Teacher, Grade Team Lead, and Special Education Teacher. Her motivation to start tutoring stemmed from a sincere commitment to helping students succeed.

For Tikiera, nothing compares to witnessing a student grasp and master content they once found challenging. This passion for student success and the significance of mathematics drives her ACT, SAT, and math tutoring. She firmly believes that everyone possesses mathematical abilities, as we utilize math in our daily lives without even realizing it.

As a tutor, Tikiera maintains high expectations but is fun, easygoing, passionate, consistent, and adaptable. She loves what she does, and it’s evident in her tutoring approach! Central to her philosophy is the success of the whole student; she doesn't just focus on teaching content but strives to support every aspect of the individual. Recognizing that a student's overall well-being directly impacts their ability to retain knowledge, Tikiera prioritizes holistic support. Moreover, Tikiera firmly believes in involving students actively in their learning journey. By collaborating with them to set goals and metrics, she ensures they remain engaged and motivated. She keeps students informed every step of the way, celebrating their successes and adjusting strategies when faced with challenges. This inclusive approach fosters a sense of ownership in students, leading to increased motivation and deeper learning.

One of Tikiera's greatest strengths as a tutor lies in her ability to simplify complex concepts. She firmly believes in the capability of every individual; when given the right support, any student can believe in and execute their goals. Guided by this perspective, Tikiera contends that the material is never truly hard or uninteresting; it's that the student just doesn’t understand it yet. So, she begins by reshaping the language around the topic. She then breaks down the material into easily digestible segments, grounding concepts with relatable examples. Consistency is paramount to Tikiera; she maintains her passion for the subject matter and ensures sessions are always enjoyable. She also recognizes the importance of breaks and keeps students engaged by relating content to real-life situations and incorporating non-academic activities for mental refreshment. Her genuine enthusiasm for teaching is contagious, empowering students to cultivate confidence as they persist in their learning journey.

In her free time, Tikiera can be found watching movies, enjoying nature, listening to music, traveling, and testing out new recipes.

Francis earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Maryland. He started his tutoring journey when a friend's brother sought his help for SAT preparation, impressed by Francis's perfect score in the math section. Since then, Francis has continued to enjoy and actively engage in tutoring.

Francis's passion for tutoring originates from his own educational experiences. As a student, he wished for teachers to explain concepts in a simple way, using more visual aids, similar to how one would explain a concept to a 5-year-old. Now, as a tutor, he strives to offer this kind of accessible learning experience to students who may be struggling in the classroom. He specializes in tutoring for the ACT, SAT, SSAT, ISEE, and AP.

Sebastian's tutoring philosophy is grounded in the belief that everyone is capable of success. He tailors his approach to the students' pace, employing straightforward language to enhance understanding. Sebastian identifies the root of the problem, breaks down complex concepts, and empowers students through consistent positive reinforcement. He aims to uplift students when they’re feeling overwhelmed and create an environment where questions are encouraged, curiosity is celebrated, and every interaction is an opportunity for mutual growth. 

One of Sebastian’s greatest strengths as a tutor is his ability to relate challenging concepts to the real world. This provides students with a greater sense of agency in their learning and fosters a stronger connection to the material. 

In his free time, Francis enjoys powerlifting, hanging out with friends, watching sports, specifically the NFL and NBA, and watching Netflix. He is also classically trained in piano and cello.