PrepNow Tutor - Leo H.
A recent college graduate specializing in mathematics and youth education, Leo holds a BA in mathematics and philosophy from Vassar College. Since graduating, Leo has worked as a summer research fellow at the Yale School of Public Health, using causal inference to study the impact of cardiovascular surgeries from patient data. “I have since moved back to the Twin Cities, where I plan to work in research for a year or two before pursuing a PhD in biostatistics!” In addition to tutoring test prep, Leo has been working on environmental data projects involving the Boundary Waters.
Leo’s teaching experience started in 2019, when he worked as a teaching assistant for summer classes at Southwest High School. “I loved working with students and helping to build skills, so I continued from there!” Leo was promoted to lead teacher, where he designed his own curriculum for K-8 classes in the sciences, maths, humanities, and arts. As a writing center tutor, he has also worked with high school students on their essays and test prep. Leo’s teaching philosophy is rooted in understanding and patience. “Everyone learns at a different speed and in a different way, and I've found that trusting students to build up understanding at their own pace can often surprise you!"
When it comes to mastering the ACT/SAT, Leo believes that mastery comes in a simple cycle of practice and conversation. “There are a finite number of question types, and just doing a handful of practice questions in every category familiarizes you with the language, expectations, and secret tricks of the tests,” he explains. “Even if the questions were five times as hard, it is shocking how much more confident even just 10 focused practice questions can make you.” Following this, Leo finds that the best review comes in the form of a conversation. “I love helping students to find patterns in questions and break them down into small pieces, eventually turning every possible question into an algorithm that you can breeze through with minimal strain! There is no one basic math or language that not everyone can learn, and every question is built from a combination of basic skills.”
In high school, Leo played Ultimate Frisbee and participated in theater and the Lincoln-Douglas debate, where he competed nationally. In college, he played Ultimate Frisbee and was part of the Outdoors club and the artists guild. Leo was a National Merit Finalist, NSDA Academic All-American Scholar, and received department honors in mathematics and philosophy. He is an illustrator, primarily using fountain pens and India ink brushes, creating posters and cartoons. He loves the outdoors and frequently hikes, canoes, and rock climbs. He also loves reading fiction. “For the last several summers, I've been involved with the Twin Cities community working as a coordinator for the summer camp Adventures in Cardboard,” he shares. Leo has been camping in -35 degree weather!
