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. Her graduate degree is specifically focused in secondary English and gifted education, and she bas experience with and is comfortable with students with various ability levels but particularly skilled at and experienced with gifted and talented and high achieving students and is well-versed in a wide variety of research, pedagogical strategies, and programs for this specific population.

She was an AP teacher, Lead AP Teacher, Department Chair, trained College Board consultant, district SAT and ACT test coordinator and ACT/SAT committee member, as well as professional development coordinator and district liaison for AP, IB, and dual enrollment programs. Her knowledge of and work with rigorous college preparatory programs gives her a firm understanding of these programs, college readiness levels, and the course expectations for college admissions, particularly competitive admissions.

She taught in a performing arts school and has a minor in creative writing with a concentration in the visual arts, so the visual and performing arts programs are of particular interest and a specialty niche, including helping with portfolio submissions. Her creative writing minor and extensive writing and editing experience as an editor, writer, and publisher the past ten years 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 are from the top-rated College of Education at THE Ohio State University. The students she has assisted with college admissions have been very successful with the 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 nation-wide, including top visual and performing arts programs and military academies. In addition to the selective admissions and arts niche, our practice has a military specialist who offers workshops and insight on the military academy application process.

Our Military Expert:

B.A., USMA (West Point); M.A. Georgia State University

Secondary Education Certification, Lamar State College

We can assist with the following information:

Military Academy Appointments and Applications: 

USMA at West Point

USNA in Annapolis

USAFA in Colorado Springs

US Coast Guard Academy

US Merchant Marine Academy

Military Scholarships and Programs: 

ROTC

Yellow Ribbon Schools & Programs

Health Profession Scholarship Program (HPSP)-graduate school scholarships in the medical fields

GRFD Scholarships (Minutemen Program)

Enlistment Tuition Benefits (including National Guard and Reserves Options)