About Kevin
From “everything came easy” to “learning how to learn”
Hi, I’m Kevin Doty. I help high‑achieving students turn “I’m just bad at tests” into consistent, confident performance on the days that matter most.
I grew up in rural Indiana, where there wasn’t much to do except ride bikes, shoot hoops, and keep my nose in a book. School came easily. I was the kid taking Algebra in middle school, doing the talent‑search SAT in 8th grade, the Eagle Scout, the Academic Decathlon nerd.
When everything is laid out clearly and the path is obvious, excelling feels easy.
Then I hit Purdue.
I went in as an Aerospace Engineering major fully expecting to crush everything. I handled calculus, chemistry, and physics… and then Electrical Engineering 201 brought me back to Earth. I failed. Twice.
That was my crash course in a hard truth: failing doesn’t make you a failure, but it does expose weak systems. I had to learn how to learn for real – how to build strategies, ask for help, and do the unglamorous work it actually takes to master something hard.
That experience is a big reason I do what I do now.
Rocket scientist turned learning specialist
I earned my degree in Aerospace Engineering, then doubled down with graduate work in both education and divinity, eventually completing an MSEd and a Master of Divinity.
In 2008, while transitioning out of full‑time ministry and working toward a PhD in Learning Science, I stumbled into tutoring. I realized I could combine:
- Deep content knowledge in math and science
- An engineer’s love of clear systems
- A coach’s instinct for building confidence and resilience
More than 16 years and over 9,000 tutoring hours later, I’ve helped many students raise SAT/ACT scores, pass AP exams, and finally feel like their test results match their effort and ability.
Parents describe me as calm, even‑keeled, and deeply invested in their kids. I take their goals personally, and I don’t panic when scores dip – we adjust the strategy and keep the goal on the table.
How this helps your student
When I work with your student, I’m not just explaining problems on tonight’s homework. I’m helping them:
- Build a repeatable system for SAT/ACT or advanced class tests
- Learn how to analyze mistakes instead of just doing more problems
- Develop the study habits and mental skills they’ll use in college and beyond
- Gain the confidence that comes from watching effort turn into results
I know what it feels like when everything used to come easy… until it doesn’t. And I know how to guide students through that transition without crushing their confidence.
Kevin is a tutor and a mentor. He cares deeply about his students and coaches them on more than just content.” – Parent
Speaking and group sessions
In addition to 1:1 and small‑group coaching, I also speak to:
- Student and parent groups
- School and counseling teams
- Community and athletic programs
Topics include high‑performance study habits, test‑day execution, and helping strong students whose scores don’t yet match their potential.
If you’re interested in having me speak to your group, you can find out more at the Speaking link below.
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If you’d like to see what this could look like for your family, the best place to start is the Work with Kevin page, where you can schedule a 20‑minute fit call and complete a short application.
Work with Kevin