Hidden Gems: Meet Katherine Hanak of Tipping Point Tutoring

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katherine Hanak.

Hi Katherine, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After graduating from CSU, I began my career in the elementary classroom at 22. I student taught in second grade and was able to get a long-term substitute position in the third grade at the same school for the spring semester. I thought that I was prepared to go it alone, but there was most definitely a learning curve.

I was responsible for 33 students (yes, back then that was a thing) and teaching all of the classroom subjects. I was so glad that I had two supportive teammates as well as my mentor teacher to help me navigate the curriculum. Little did I know that in the next 4 years, I would teach two more grade levels at three other schools because I didn’t have tenure.

These experiences helped me to turn a difficult few years into later having a thriving business tutoring kindergarten through seniors in high school. I continued to be in the classroom for 12 more years teaching at both public and private schools. In the beginning, I learned much of my teaching philosophy and technique from mentors, trial and error, and “gut” instinct. The reason that I am able to work with a wide age range of students is that I can teach what I understand myself.

Teaching is an Art and a Science; someone can have a degree in mathematics, but not be able to teach the content at an age-appropriate level. A published author might be able to write themselves but not be able to teach the writing process to a second grader. During my fifth year of teaching, I taught fourth grade at a local private school, I was asked to tutor a student from the middle school. This began my adventures in private tutoring!

I loved working with this individual on his weaknesses while playing to his strengths. It was very rewarding to see his growth in writing on a weekly basis. I continued to have a few tutoring students each year as I stayed in the classroom for another ten. My tutoring business started in my home office and it grew primarily by referral.

Fast forward to today, I tutor in an office that I share with five therapists. People ask me what I tutor, and I always reply, let me tell you what I do not teach… foreign language, chemistry, and no higher than algebra II/ trig. It is a wide span, yet I get excited teaching a child to read, solving algebra problems, and answering biology questions all on the same day. Each day is different and that keeps me young and ready to tackle any challenge.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would be surprised if anyone who owns a small business would ever experience a “smooth” road, because, there are certain struggles during the journey. At the beginning of my teaching career, it was challenging to teach four different grade levels, at three different schools, in three years. More than once, I was hired as a classroom teacher after the school year had already begun, and that transition was a challenge for both the students and me.

Tutoring began for me as a supplement to my classroom teaching responsibilities and only became full-time following the birth of my first child. My home-based business slowly grew over the years and as it expanded, my family, including our pets, had to adapt to having students at the house in the afternoon and evening hours.

Eventually, I decided that I would move to an office. Like many professionals, If I only had to perform my primary role of being an academic coach, then I would be satisfied. However, the scheduling and billing and many of the other aspects of running a business are the parts and least enjoy and have been obstacles for me to overcome.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Tipping Point Tutoring?
I own and operate a private tutoring business in Lone Tree and specialize in customizing an approach for each individual. I work with students from K-12, which is why many of my clients have been with me for years. Often I start working with a student in elementary or middle school and am lucky enough to be invited to their high school graduation. It is gratifying to have a relationship with a student and their family, celebrating their successes and supporting their struggles as they grow and develop as learners.

My specialties include: reinforcing executive functioning, study skills, and organization techniques; reading, decoding, and comprehension strategies; math, basic skills through algebra II/trig; and the writing process, all skills up to college essays. Additionally, I work with students on other subjects as needed: science, social studies, psychology, health, and other various electives. Some students who are applying to private schools or colleges come to see me on a short-term basis for test preparation.

All of my work is specifically tailored to the current needs and goals of the individual. You will find me checking grades, texting my older students to keep them on track, emailing teachers, and going to in-person meetings at schools with parents, teachers, and specialists. I feel that it takes a village and being able to communicate effectively with the team of adults surrounding each student is key to the success of the child.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
When Covid-19 hit, I had to go virtual overnight. I used Zoom, my phone, and a document camera during each tutoring session. My high schoolers handled it best as they were able to screen share, send worksheets via text, and keep me in the loop in real-time.

On the other hand, my early elementary students struggled to maintain focus due to all of the distractions at home as parents tried their best to homeschool. On Zoom, they missed the opportunity to use math manipulatives when working with fractions, playing vocabulary beachball, doing highlighter reading, and practicing multiplication facts on the Flash Master.

My parents begged me to return in person as soon as the shutdown was over. Slowly, they came back to the office to resume our regular practices. Being on a screen multiple hours a day is far from optimal for children, and I have seen some of the effects firsthand in my practice. Students who have joined me post-Covid are often up to two years below grade level.

Unfortunately, we will see the “fallout” for a while longer. My biggest takeaway is that I could never do a job where I sat at a computer all day. I enjoy interacting with students, and I am not the type to tutor online. Tutoring is best one-on-one and in person, hands down!