Barbara Conner
Director of College Counseling, Foxcroft School (VA)
How long have you been in
your current position at Foxcroft School? How long have you been there
total?
I have been at Foxcroft
School as Director of College Counseling for almost four years - I came midyear
and my fourth class of seniors just graduated - time flies!
How did you get started in
college counseling/admissions?
I was working in
Fairfax County Public Schools when I learned about the College and Career
Center Specialist position in each of the high schools. When I read the job
description, it sounded like they had designed a perfect job for me and as soon
as one of the jobs became available, I applied. I was hired at West
Potomac High School in Alexandria, Virginia and spent five years working with
the incredible students and families in that school community. During my final
year at West Potomac, I had a cadre of 23 weekly parent volunteers whose time
and dedication allowed me to work with the students (2100 in all) in meaningful
ways.
Prior to this, I worked in
different areas including as a human resources director, an organizational
consultant, a parent liaison, and a special education coordinator. The
common element I have found throughout my career is that I enjoy working with
people, helping them discover their strengths and their goals then helping them
develop strategies to achieve their goals. Making connections has always
been important to me.
What's your favorite
counseling memory?
Wow - this is a tough
question - there are so many incredible moments, conversations, and events
which mark my time in college counseling. When I left West Potomac, the
parents hosted a bon voyage celebration and I was honored and stunned by the
hundreds of previous students, current and former parents, and current students
who attended. To see the impact my work had on these individuals was
humbling. During the celebration, one of my football players came over
picked me up off the ground and whispered, "It won't be the same here
without you. Those Foxcroft students better know how lucky they are to be
getting you!" which made me cry. I will cherish that memory as one of my
most poignant.
What advice would you give
to someone looking to pursue leadership in PCACAC and/or NACAC?
Being involved in PCACAC
has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my professional career.
I want everyone to have this experience. Imagine an organization
where when you walk into a meeting, people cheer and hug you. The
networking opportunities are unparalleled and the opportunities for personal
growth are boundless. How do you make this happen in your life?
Step up. Volunteer. Talk with current PCACAC leadership to learn
about the different opportunities. Fill out and submit the online
volunteer form found on the PCACAC website. No matter what your
interests, there is a PCACAC opportunity for you.
If not working in college counseling, what would you do?
I plan to do this forever,
but if I HAD to change fields, I would go back to being a Human Resources
Director. I loved the staff development and training aspect of that work
and found it very fulfilling.
What's one thing most people don't know about
you?
The saddest/coolest thing
I've done - being a pall-bearer for my grandfather. With my brothers and
cousins, I was honored to make that final walk with him at his funeral.
Spending every summer on Cape Cod was the binding fabric of my early life which
included 12 U.S./international moves (my Dad was in the Army). Summers
meant spending time with my Papou fishing on the boat, sitting with him at
Fenway, or watching him regale a roomful of aunts, uncles, and cousins with
hysterical jokes while tears of joy streamed down his face. He taught me about
honor and integrity. He showed me the value of family. He lived his
life fully every single day.
Current trend/future issue
I am most passionate about right now?
Changing the
language we use when talking with students about college exploration and the
college application process. The old model of
"reach/zone/safety" no longer works in this unpredictable admission
landscape. When the old models no longer reflect the current reality, it
is imperative that we adapt. I've done this by using a different approach
with my students for the past few years - Five First Choice Colleges.
By asking students to focus on at least five schools that MATCH their
current academic profile, their social/cultural goals for college, and their
financial realities, I have begun to shift (slowly, but steadily) the way our
students and families approach the process. My goal is better outcomes
and less stress for students. I don't want to be a lone voice in the wilderness
on this important facet of our work, so I will be submitting an article for the
PCACAC website soon and I hope this will begin a conversation among folks on
both sides of the college admission desk.
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