#HASHTAG: KATHRYN PETTY

Since 2007, Lake Bluff’s KATHRYN PETTY has taught at College of Lake County (CLC)’s communications department while simultaneously tutoring high school juniors and seniors from all across the country for standardized test prep and college application assistance. After more than 450 ACT students and thousands of CLC students, she continues to sit for the ACT to keep her skills sharp. She admits that she gets some raised eyebrows from the proctor and the other students but she is committed to staying on top of any subtle test changes in her pursuit of excellence for her students. The vast majority of her ACT students hit their goals because Petty approaches the test logically and systemically while teaching both content and strategy. “One of the most important ways to raise your ACT score is to read,” she tells her students. “In a sense, the entire test is reading-based. And as they say, there is no substitute for reading and reading a lot. Also, give it your very best effort. Putting forth your best effort simply gives you more choices for college.” Petty sets aside her test prep books to share how she stays current in a fast-paced world.

#ON MY NIGHTSTAND

Beside reading Mr. Popper’s Penguins to my two young sons, I am re-reading Jack London’s novels because one of my senior students wrote her essay on a winter dog-sledding expedition and it made me want to revisit those Yukon adventures. I am also finishing John Adams by David McCullough. After reading The Adams-Jefferson Letters with my grandpa, we had moved on to John Adams and were halfway through when my grandpa passed away last year at age 101. I’m looking forward to finishing the biography and then re-watching the 2008 HBO miniseries, which is perhaps one of my top five television programs.

#ON MY MOBILE

I am not very active on social media, but I enjoy following Bishop Robert Barron. He served as the rector for the University of Saint Mary’s of the Lake in Mundelein and frequently visited Saint Mary’s in Lake Forest. He has spoken at the headquarters of Facebook, Google, and Amazon and is highly respected for his views on faith, philosophy, literature, and culture as well as the search for truth and beauty.

#IN MY EARBUDS

I recently started listening to a podcast called Your College-Bound Kid after hearing a parent’s recommendation. In terms of music, I am listening to whatever is playing at Panera because I am there tutoring most days of the week. When my own college-age daughter is home, sometimes I get to hear her playlists as well, which is always fun.