We help busy families in the Lake Norman area and across the U.S. navigate the college admissions process with caring, customized, comprehensive direction and support.

About Me

Joanie has over 25 years of experience in the field of education, working as a high school English teacher, a College Preparatory Program Coordinator for 26 high schools in a large urban school district, as a national award-winning academic team coach for ten years, and currently as an independent educational consultant. She is experienced with working with high school students, especially gifted and talented students, and well versed in a wide variety of pedagogical strategies and methods, having worked with students who struggle academically to the highest achievers and most gifted of students. Her graduate degree is specifically focused in secondary English and gifted education, and having taught for a number of years, she is comfortable with students with various ability levels but particularly skilled at and experienced with gifted and talented students and high achieving students. She was an AP teacher, Lead AP Teacher, Department Chair, trained College Board consultant, district SAT and ACT test coordinator and committee member, as well as professional development coordinator and liaison for AP, IB, and dual enrollment programs. Her knowledge and work in with rigorous college preparatory programs gives her a firm understanding of these programs, college readiness levels, and course expectations for college admissions, particularly competitive admissions. She taught in a performing arts school and has a minor in creative writing and a concentration in the visual arts, so the visual and performing arts programs are of particular interest and a specialty niche. Her creative writing minor and extensive writing and editing experience is especially helpful for teaching students how to tackle their personal statements and supplemental essays. She completed the Professional Program in College Consulting at U.C. Berkeley and her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the top-rated College of Education at THE Ohio State University. The students whom she has assisted with college admissions have been very successful with their application process, getting accepted into multiple selective institutions, and that work has enabled her to do extensive research and have first-hand knowledge of various elite programs, including top visual and performing arts programs and military academies. In addition to the selective admissions and arts niche, she has a military specialist who offers workshops and insight on the military academy application process. The mission of Compass College Consultants is to provide caring, customized, comprehensive direction and to support our students on their journey to their best-fit college that will best serve their academic, social, and financial needs.

Specialty Areas

General Ed Counseling, Arts performing and visual arts applications, portfolios, Auditions, Application Essay Craft/Review, Counselor in a High School, k12 Academic Advising/Course Planning Services, Career/Aptitude Assessment

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