Tom O'Dell
My educational consulting practice is rooted in my thirty-plus years experience as an independent school teacher and administrator. I focus on helping families and students considering boarding schools for both regular and special needs student.
Parents realize that selecting the right school for their child is one of the most important decisions they will ever make. I believe the key to successful school placement is understanding the specific needs of the student and knowing the essence and the culture of schools. Identifying the right school match is the ultimate goal in this oftentimes complex and daunting process.
In assessing schools and programs, I rely on my thirty years of experience in schools, an extensive network of admission office contacts, hundreds of schools visits, and previously successful placements. I also believe in having frequent dialog with the student, his or her family and the professionals who know best the needs of the student. This collaborative effort culminates in a highly personalized process of matching students with schools that can best meet their needs.
Prior to establishing my consultancy, I held several positions at independent boarding schools; most recently, I served as the Hillside School, Director of Admissions in Marlborough, MA. Prior to that I was the Headmaster of the Greenwood School, in Putney, VT from 1999 to 2001, the Director of Admissions at the Marvelwood School, Kent, CT from 1991 to 1999, and a teacher, social worker, and administrator at the Glenholme School in Washington, CT from 1975 to 1991. In addition, I currently consult to the admissions office at the Forman School in Litchfield, CT.
Supporting professional development, I have presented workshops at TABS, SSATB, and SBSA conferences.
My wife Robin and I have lived most of our 30 years together in Litchfield County, Connecticut. We have two grown children: Andrew who teaches at the Chapel Hill- Chauncey Hall School, and Danielle, a graduate student at the University of Arizona. Robin and I travel avidly, having visited Costa Rica, Ireland, and Peru in the past 15 months.
Contact Tom to learn more about AQ Educational Consulting.