Student Advocacy Team

Teens in the Upper School have access to a team of personal advisers and specialists who help them face the life-changing passage from adolescence to young adult, guides guide them through the rigorous process of finding the right college or university. While the counseling staff at the private Cincinnati catholic high school focuses on student issues, educational psychology and college admissions, every teacher and specialist in the building serves as an adviser to a small group of students. As a whole, the collaborative student advocacy team is able to pay close attention to the needs of each individual student while providing expertise for special needs and college search.

The Teacher Advisement Program is the cornerstone of student advocacy. Groups of 10 to 12 freshmen are assigned to one teacher or specialist who leads the group through the entire four-year Upper School experience. These small groups of students become a support system to each other while the advisor takes a personal interest in each child. “My goal is that, when they leave The Summit, they are independent people who know how to address issues that occur to them,” says Upper School Librarian Marianne Cramer. High School Counselor Mike Fee and College Counselor Maureen Ferrell say the advisement team gives Summit students an edge in college. Every student learns how to ask for help, which is an indicator these students are likely to succeed if their studies become difficult.

The College Counseling Office puts experienced professionals to work helping students and their parents investigate and choose the higher education programs which best suit their needs and interests. Summit’s graduating seniors annually win millions in scholarships from top-tier universities, public ivies and private colleges. As Upper School Director, Dr. Pat White applies her knowledge and experience for working many years as a college counselor to the needs of the seniors she has come to know well. Dr. White has established a team of experts who focus on different aspects of the college search.

Maureen Ferrell, who was given the “Excellent School Counselor” award in 2009 by CareerQuest. As Director of College Counseling, school counselor for juniors and seniors and adviser for her own small group of students, Ms. Ferrell taps into the abilities and interests of the students to oversee their college search. With an extensive list of contacts at universities across the U.S. from more than three decades in counseling and college counseling, Ms. Ferrell visits several campuses a year to keep up to date on the unique qualities of their programs. “I’m trying to find the best colleges for the personalities, interests, goals and what students want to do,” she says.

Steve Penticuff prepares students for standardized tests and specializes in helping students write their college essays. Like Ms. Ferrell, he travels extensively to attend national conferences and visit colleges each year. Mr. Penticuff is an English teacher but also is the faculty advisor to Senior Search and Chapel Talks, two programs which often provide intense personal experiences for personal reflection. "The key to a successful college essay is often talking students out of predictable and overused stories, or life stories that are too ambitious in scope,” Mr. Penticuff says. “Instead, I encourage them to focus narrowly on a single moment or insight, to develop and trust their own distinct voices."

Mike Fee is the high school counselor for grades 7-10 and has his own advisement group. He sees his job as removing obstacles keeping students from performing at their highest potential. Fee often serves as a liaison with other counselors and finds resources within The Summit or the community to serve special needs. “I have the benefit of being tapped into parents, tapped into administrators, the kids,” he says.

Kelley Schiess, director of admissions, is the point person for athletic scholarships, working with coaches, students and families. With 14 years of experience in the Xavier University admissions office, she also coaches students individually and in groups on the interview process.