KC Hetterly

Biography

My interest in learning and education developed at a young age and has carried me throughout my career. Growing up, I spent most of my free time exploring and learning about the complexities of living things in a variety of Bay Area nature preserves and on my grandparents’ organic ranch near Mt. Shasta. These experiences nurtured my lifelong hunger for knowledge and passion for biology. My aunt taught fourth and fifth grade at my elementary school and spending time with her made me realize that I was just as excited about teaching as
I was about learning. I started teaching my friends and family different fun facts and art techniques, then went on to get a job working as a camp counselor as soon as I was able to work. I haven’t stopped teaching since.

I was born in Virginia, but my family soon moved back to the California Bay Area where my mother had grown up. I attended elementary, middle, and high school in Palo Alto and went on to earn my Bachelor’s of Science in Biology and graduate summa cum laude from the University of Puget Sound. In college, I conducted my own independent research on bacterial bioluminescence, worked as a TA for microbiology and ecology classes, and was initiated into the Phi Sigma Biological Honors Society where I first began tutoring. I volunteered as a docent at the local natural history museum, leading tours and providing educational outreach to the community and local schools. After graduation, I worked in advocacy and education for the Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance, then went on to teach summer school and afterschool programs on art, environmental ecology, and project-based STEM learning. Most recently I have been teaching outdoor environmental education in forest school programs.

As someone who was raised in the academic rigor of the Bay Area, I understand how fast-paced and intense school can be. When I was a student, I sometimes felt helpless and overwhelmed in the face of academic expectations. My goal as a tutor is to provide the support and guidance students need to gain comfort and confidence in their abilities and take control of their own learning. Every student has unique needs that schools often cannot address. Working 1-on-1 with students allows me to meet them where they are and fully adapt to their individual learning styles. Any student can achieve their goals given the right type of support. I strive to not only help students understand subject matter, but to guide them through the development of lifelong tools and techniques they can use to continue learning independently.

Outside of work, I enjoy painting, hiking, and swimming whenever I get the opportunity.