Featured Tutor: Kevin Holsopple

Last updated Feb 5, 2021

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aplus-featured-tutor-Kevin-Holsopple Meet Kevin Holsopple, our A+ tutor in the spotlight.

Kevin has worn many hats in his lifetime, and he brings the accompanying experience with him to A+ Test Prep and Tutoring to serve our students.

Care to discuss degrees? Kevin holds both a BS and MS in nuclear engineering from Penn State. He also possesses an MBA and a master’s in environmental engineering from the same institution.

Kevin’s career accomplishments are also impressive. He has 20 years of experience in the field of nuclear power. He has worked on the design and engineering of nuclear power plants and has been involved in corporate oversight of nuclear utilities.

Kevin’s second career led him away from science and into finance. For years, Kevin was a successful investment analyst in the New York area. He became skilled in personal finance, managing his own portfolio as well as educating individuals in the areas of investments.

So what led Kevin to A+?

Says Kevin, “I started tutoring on my own after leaving the investment industry. I really enjoyed it! But, as I wanted to focus on the teaching, I began looking around for an agency that I could feel good about working with. That’s when I found A+! One thing that impressed me was how thoroughly A+ vets their tutors. A+’s administration puts tutors and students in a position to be successful. It’s not just all about revenue. It’s about support. The office deserves all the credit in the world, because without their support I couldn’t do what I do.”

Kevin’s specialty is math and science exam preparation. He also excels at high-level subject tutoring outside of exam prep—calculus and all applications of math. Kevin feels that one of his strengths is his knack for being able to explain things with numbers to people. “My experience in different industries lets me translate the theories into real-life applications. It allows me to simplify complicated, complex concepts and demonstrate how they’re actually used in real life.”

Kevin feels very strongly that it is a privilege to be working with A+ students. “They are some very bright people,” he says seriously. “I often feel I’m just like a basketball coach who has the opportunity to work with Michael Jordan. I can stand back and let them do their thing. I just don’t want to get in their way!

“I’m not a clock watcher. If we’re in the middle of a concept and the student wants to keep going, I’m there.”

Kevin is very familiar with the barriers that can block students from doing their best on tests.

“In school,” he relates, “I always wanted to solve problems in in my head. Boy did I get in trouble over that! Dealing with very gifted people, I notice they tend to want to do the same. I try to show them that there’s a value in writing a problem solution out. It helps when you can check your work later to make sure everything’s okay. There are no extra points for getting done early! I can say that some of the biggest improvements in scores that I see come from learning and using this principle.

“I also see a lot of students with confidence issues. Being able to show students and parents their improvement on practice tests is a bigconfidence booster.”

Kevin recalls a student he tutored over the summer. “She was doing exam prep and wasn’t very confident. Her ACT scores were not that great. I knew she was smart and an extremely dedicated individual. It was readily apparent to me that she had the ‘intellectual horsepower’ to do the work. We did some sessions and practice exams. At the end of the summer we saw the results. Big improvement! Jaw-dropping. I had to analyze the practice test twice because I didn’t believe it. She had improved by 25% in nine different areas (and in some areas by more than 50%)! It was gratifying to both her parents and me that she was beaming with confidence (and humility) to see what she could actually do. She could see it right there with raw data.”

Kevin’s final thoughts? “I want parents and students to know they’re getting the best care we can give them here at A+. And remember, life isn’t all about work. Take time to dream. Relax. Above all, have fun!”

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   Angela Jay 
 2024-02-15
 
 
   Best Decision Ever!

A+ Tutoring proved to be a transformative experience for me, surpassing all my expectations. Without hesitation, I wholeheartedly recommend A+ Tutoring to any parent or guardian seeking academic improvement and aiming to unlock their child’s full potential.

Prior to selecting A+, I carefully researched and evaluated other services. My goals were twofold: to prepare my son for the standardized testing required for preparatory school and college applications, and to enhance his time management skills and study habits.

Mr. John’s personalized approach resonated with my son’s personality and specific learning needs. Despite my son’s demanding sports schedule, Mr. John was incredibly flexible and accommodating. The sessions were comprehensive, combining instruction, engaging conversations, and homework assignments to reinforce existing concepts and introduce new ones in advanced math, English, and science.

The tangible outcomes were apparent: not only did my son’s grades improve by at least one grade level, but he also secured early admission to prep school! Moreover, I observed a significant boost in his confidence and overall demeanor.

I am deeply grateful to Mr. John, Ms. Dorothea, and Mr. Dan for their exceptional dedication and support. They truly went above and beyond to ensure that we felt fully supported throughout the process. Their contributions have made a profound impact on my son’s academic journey, maximizing the value of my investment.
  
 
 
       
   Kenneth Greenspan 
 2023-11-28
 
 
   Extremely professional and thorough
  
 
 
       
   Leah Reinhard Peshek 
 2023-11-15
 
 
   I just wanted to thank A+ for helping my son achieve his goals. He worked with 2 instructors Andrew and Barbara for both the SAT and AP exams. Whatever they did it was magic! Not only did he get the results he wanted- he surpassed them. It was hands-off for me, he scheduled and communicated with his instructors on his own, which taught him responsibility and accountability. Yet, their lesson follow-up emails kept me in the loop. I can’t recommend them any more highly. If you decide to use them you won’t be disappointed, you will see a student who is better prepared for their studies as well as any tests they choose to take- they even seem more mature and confident. A+ I’m giving you an A+ Thank you so much, Leah Reinhard.
  
 
 
       
   Rebekka Hartwell 
 2023-10-28
 
 
   We had a great experience with A+ Test Prep and Tutoring. I appreciated that the tutor tailored the sessions around our daughter's needs and worked with her strengths. I can definitely recommend this program to anyone needing some extra support.
  
 
 
       
   Rhiannon Kelly 
 2023-08-31
 
 
   My son needed assistance preparing for an exam. We reached out to A+ test prep and they were wonderful. They were able to schedule him for tutoring without an delays. Their knowledge, assistance and guidance speaks volumes. A+ exceeded all outlets expectations. Thank you
  
 
 
       
   Andrea Emmons 
 2023-07-06
 
 
   The tutors were terrific, very thoughtful and really understood my child's needs in terms of studying. The hours worked well with our schedule and the homework assigned was super helpful!
  
 
 
       
   V Penz 
 2023-06-22
 
 
   A+ Test Prep provided superior tutoring custom-tailored to meet my son’s specific needs and learning style. His SAT score increased by 160 points with 12 hours of tutoring!!! That put him well-within range for all of the schools to which he is applying. A+ truly listened to make sure they exceeded our expectations starting with matching our son with Rob. He is an experienced tutor who set goals and developed a specialized plan. Rob taught clear, structured, organized lessons, helped my son plan his practice and homework, and taught test stress-management and relaxation techniques. These lessons also helped fill-in gaps from the pandemic.  The writing, reading and math lessons and strategies  Rob taught gave Dylan a strong foundation of critical-thinking skills which will serve him well in college, the work-force, and beyond.  A+ staff, including Rob, gave prompt, detailed and insightful feedback after each session. You will get ENORMOUS value for your financial investment with A+.  I investigated 6 other tutoring companies and am confident A+ was the best for tailoring their tutoring to a program that best fit my son’s learning style!!
  
 
 
       
   Megan Gasper 
 2023-05-26
 
 
   This tutoring program literally changed my daughters test scores by 1000 points, and they were so helpful, and communicative with me the entire time. I really recommend them for every student, whether they are trying to make their test scores better, or make their scores above excellent
  
 
 
       
   Zarah Adams 
 2023-05-04
 
 
   We chose A+ for Preparation to help our daughter prepare for college entrance exams. May daughter had Pam for the verbal portion of the exam. Pam was amazing! She asked about extra-curricular activities and demonstrated genuine interest in my daughter's role as a student in and outside of the classroom. Pam also noted how important these activities are to colleges. John was the tutor for math and science. He helped my daughter feel comfortable and confident in her skills. My daughter's ACT composite score went up 5 points! I would highly recommend A+ for Test Preparation!
  
 
 
  
 
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