Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Hart.
Hi Katie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Sunset Beach, North Carolina but moved to Durham to attend the North Carolina School of Science Math for my junior and senior years of high school. I attended undergraduate and graduate school at UNC-Chapel Hill where I met my husband, Tom. After earning my Masters in Teaching, I taught public school for nine years, first at Williams High School in Burlington and then at Carrboro High, where I earned my National Board Certification. I took over ownership of ColPrep Tutoring in 2018 and have been supporting tutors and working one on one with students ever since. I have three children of my own, Tommy (13), Lily (10) and Jack (9), and I love the flexibility that owning my own business has given me over the last seven years.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve been lucky to consistently have a fabulous group of tutors over the years, many of whom are graduate students from UNC-Chapel Hill or high school teachers. I’ve also been fortunate enough to mainly rely on word of mouth as marketing for the business. One of my bigger challenges has been finding the time to dedicate to other forms of marketing. I’ve also struggled over the years to appropriately value my time and expertise. As a veteran teacher with years of experience helping students with test prep and college applications, I am learning how to value my time accordingly while still making sure my services are affordable for families.
We’ve been impressed with ColPrep Tutoring, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our tutoring group works primarily with high school students, though we tutor some middle schoolers as well. We specialize in subject-area tutoring, ACT/SAT prep, and college applications and essays. We meet with students in person or virtually, and we can schedule sessions to fit students’ busy schedules. All of our tutors are trained teachers, and we love what we do!
My favorite part of my work with students is helping them write and edit their personal essays when they apply to colleges. I enjoy helping them tell their unique story while making the process as stress free as possible for families.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I work with a wonderful group of tutors, but I want to give a special thanks to Jan Gottschalk who has been a friend and mentor since our teaching days back at Carrboro High School. Another special thanks to my mom whose guidance has helped me more times than I can count. A big thank you goes to Zinaida who helped build my website and plan next moves over Lanza’s coffee. Thanks to my kids, Tommy, Lily, and Jack, and to Tom, my husband, who encourages me and handles all the boring business paperwork.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.colpreptutoring.com
