About me

Don't tell anyone but I have just about the best high school job anyone could have! I have been working with high school students on "what to do after high school" for over 25 years.  I love talking to students about who they are becoming and what they want to do in the future.  And, then, helping them to start on their post-high school journey towards those goals. It's a privilege.  The best part of working in a public high school is that this is where the students are- their community, activities, where they have grown up and I am part of it.  My job gives me access to college admissions at a high level and allows me the time and focus to be well-connected and up-to-date. 

My career began working with first generation, disadvantaged students through community agencies. After completing my Master's Degree in Counseling, I was a "wear all the hats" school counselor for 15 years.  I loved almost all aspects of the job (scheduling of classes- not that much fun!) but the college and career planning became my favorite and my passion. I was working in a school that earned a large multi year grant to increase college going.  This opened opportunities for me to work with regional and national resources, have additional training in Financial Aid and Admissions that most high school counselors don't have access to. Due to this grant, I was "mentored"  by a highly selective college admissions director and the financial aid director to have the best understanding of the inside practices possible. I have worked closely with admissions directors from all levels of colleges, including the most selective and was asked to be on a State Compact with college presidents, admissions, business leaders and educators with a goal  of making college more accessible to all.   I have also had opportunity to be part of successful Nationally recognized programs and incorporate practices locally.  I also read applications for a highly selective college so I can see admissions from "both sides of the desk." On top of that, I'm a total geek when it comes to watching trends, talking about admissions, careers and the future of work! 

My personal greatest interest is on retention. It's not enough to get our students admitted (though very important!) but to set up as much potential to fit in and stay until completion and graduating. This means making sure students are adequately prepared (academically and personally), know what to expect and how to access resources. It also means working with colleges on what policies and programs work to retain students.  In addition, affordability and understanding and advocating is a huge part of my job. 

At Winnacunnet, I can completely focus on the postsecondary planning.  While the other counselors are doing schedule changes and meeting with Freshmen in the fall, I am focused on seniors and their post secondary planning. I write all the counselor letters of recommendations. I am the student's advocate to admissions. I get to tell the colleges all the best things about the student in context with our Winnacunnet curriculum and community. In my role, I also see all student admissions decisions, grades, test scores in real time so I have a front seat to the ever changing world of college admissions. I am a bit of a geek about understanding trends, data and what goes on in admissions.  Don't get me started on such topics unless you have some time to kill!

My approach is to get to know students personally, understand their dreams and goals and work with them to find the best fit.  The best fit, in a college, is the college that a student will graduate from ready to start a career or go to graduate school. This means that they have to be happy enough with the college that they stay through to graduation.