Ace the ACT 2026-2027 Book + Online

Dave Dobos is the founder of Next Level Prep, a leading provider of ACT, SAT, and PSAT preparation for high schools and school districts throughout Ohio and in several other states. Dave was elected to two four-year terms on the Columbus Board of Education, serving one year as its President. He served in the Ohio House of Representatives, where he was heavily involved in educational and economic development initiatives. Dave has worked with thousands of students, helping them improve their scores on their college entrance exams and providing helpful advice about the selective college admissions process. A Columbus native, Dave grew up on the West Side of the capital city. He matriculated to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he studied economics and spent two years on the undergraduate admissions staff, an experience that would later help inform his decision to start a test preparation business.

Jim Kebe, M.P.S., has taught high school English, worked as the test coordinator for a school district, graded ACT essays, sold used cars, and served as the executive director for a non-profit organization. One day, Jim found himself in over his head while helping his daughter prepare for her ACT test. His quest for resources led him to Al Warner and Dave Dobos, who were running a test preparation company based in Columbus, Ohio. Jim ultimately became a test preparation presenter with the company. Since 2014, Jim has served as Vice President of Next Level Prep, and has worked with Dave to create, edit, and revise NLP's student and professional development seminars. He has helped thousands of students raise their scores on their college entrance exams. Jim holds a B.A. in English from the University of Dayton, and a Master of Pastoral Studies degree from Loyola University, New Orleans. Jim is honored to join with Kelly Roell and Dave Dobos to produce a fully revised and updated edition of REA's Ace the ACT.

Kelly C. Roell, M.A., is a published novelist, certified teacher, and longtime test prep guru. A former high school teacher of English and reading in one of the nation's top-ranked school districts (Tampa's Hillsborough County), she has helped students navigate the many facets of local, state, and national standardized tests. Kelly ran a college-admissions test prep course for advanced high school students, guiding them to focus their potential and raise their scores. In addition to her involvement in the education arena, including with ThoughtCo, Scholastic.com, and MSN.com, she has cultivated an enthusiastic following in the parenting realm with appearances in The Washington Post, Scary Mommy, ParentMap, and Folks, among others. Kelly also served as executive editor of the microlearning edtech Blue Ocean Brain. Kelly holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan and an M.A. in Secondary English Education.