Mission
The mission of Institute for Excellence is to help students utilize their unique skills and talents to find their passions and reach their potential: excellence.
Vision
People are lifelong learners, regardless of their career. Everyone has to grow, adapt, and respond to a variety of stimuli and changes throughout life. The philosophy at Institute for Excellence is that education is an investment, and learning is an opportunity to better oneself. When students learn to value education at a young age, they are more likely to form a positive relationship with learning, which is an invaluable skill that opens a variety of doors in life. Our programs are highly geared toward teaching students to take advantage of all of their opportunities, learning to overcome obstacles/adversity, and adopting a positive attitude toward the learning process that leads to general enjoyment of learning. We customize programs to help students fulfill their goals and overcome their unique obstacles. Students who learn to embrace and value learning have an easier time finding careers and using their unique talents and abilities towards a fulfilling life.
Core Values
Integrity
Maintaining the highest ethical standards and always acting in the best interest of my clients.
Excellence
We aim to inspire our students to reach their potential by striving for excellence themselves. Continuously improving my methods and knowledge to provide exceptional coaching experiences. Additionally, we seek to make every coaching/consulting experience an excellent one that leaves clients enthusiastic about our services and grateful for our time together.
Personalization/Authenticity
Encouraging genuine self expression and alignment with one's true values and purpose. Since everyone processes information differently, we don’t believe in a one size fits all program. We design a customized program that fits each individual learner’s needs.
Empowerment
Building self-reliance and capability rather than creating dependency.
Meet Your Coach Dr. Katti Skinner
Empowering students to reach their goals for over 15 years
Katti Skinner grew up in Southwest Michigan and she was always curious and interested in learning. In fifth grade her teacher noticed she had an affinity for helping fellow students with their work. She asked Katti to stay in during recess to help another student struggling with material, and Katti agreed. After recess, her teacher told Katti she was a natural teacher and asked her if she’d be willing to help more in the future during recess since that was the most progress that student had made on that subject. Katti agreed with a huge grin on her face and confessed that she’d actually had a lot of fun. During this experience, Katti found a love for sharing knowledge and a passion for teaching. Since then, she has helped middle school, high school, college, and medical students with material ranging from SAT/ACT prep, English/Grammar/Writing, Reading, Math, and Science to Social Studies.
Additionally, she has tutored doctors, nurses, nursing students and other graduate students in various subjects and for various admissions/board certification exams, and has helped students with applications to various colleges, programs, and graduate schools. Katti attended the University of Michigan on a full merit-based scholarship and received a full tuition academic scholarship to Wayne State University School of Medicine. She graduated from college and medical school at the top of her class, tutoring other students along the way. While earning her medical degree, she was invoked into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, partly for being recognized as having a passion for teaching, learning and service.
She was ecstatic when she matched at the University of Michigan for a residency position in Anesthesiology, grateful to have matched at her favorite teaching hospital and first residency choice. While enjoying the science and practice of anesthesiology, Katti felt like she wanted more than the medical field could offer her. After feeling constrained and limited in the field of medicine, she decided to branch out and start her own business, and realized that she enjoyed a wider variety of challenges and problems to solve. Her love of teaching and learning led her to teach the majority of her life; thus, she decided to start an academic coaching and consulting business to help people reach their academic and career goals. Katti loves helping her students strengthen their knowledge and understanding, while forging supportive mentor relationships with them. With over 20 years of experience in tutoring and her plethora of knowledge/experience in higher education and academia, helping students navigate their paths along their journeys and choices to their futures is one of Katti’s greatest passions. Being an academic coach and helping individuals navigate their paths are top priorities for her.
