Shortridge Academy announces a change in the leadership of their Academic Department. As of April 1st, Sarah Wagner will be pursuing her goal of starting a private consulting and coaching practice, while continuing to serve Shortridge as a consulting College Counselor/Learning Specialist on a part-time basis. Sarah was one of the founding faculty of Shortridge and has worked for the Academy for over ten years as a teacher, Academic Director, and most recently as the Director of Academic Support and Outreach. As a consulting staff, Sarah will continue to provide Shortridge students with learning support, college application support and academic coaching.
"This has been an incredible journey," Wagner says. "I feel so lucky to have been a part of this community from the very beginning. I am very much looking forward to this next step in my career, and I'm thrilled that I will be able to continue to be a part of Shortridge on a regular basis."
In her new role, Sarah will continue to provide college counseling services to Shortridge students and families. She will be expanding the college counseling program to include career counseling. In addition, as a Learning Specialist, Sarah will facilitate academic support services for students with different learning needs, develop individual academic plans and provide consultation and training for faculty.
"Sarah has contributed so much to Shortridge, our families and students over the past 10+ years. She has helped us evolve academically and programmatically to a true college preparatory, NEASC-accredited school. Her creativity and passion has been contagious. I am glad she will continue to be a part of our future in her new capacity, and wish her the best for her new venture," says Adam Rainer, Shortridge Founder.
Anne Downey, PhD., who is Director of Studies, will assume full leadership of the Academic Department as Sarah moves into her new role. Over her 24-year teaching career, Anne has taught a wide variety of populations, including college students, adults, gifted elementary school children, and ESL learners. She started her tenure at Shortridge as the U.S. History and English 10 teacher. In July 2011, she was promoted to Director of Studies. Anne is committed to strengthening the academic curriculum by building in activities that promote cognitive intelligence in all aspects of life at Shortridge.
"It has been my privilege to work with Sarah Wagner as co-academic director over the past year and a half," Downey says. "She is the consummate professional, and I have learned so much from her! We wish her all the best at this exciting juncture in her career, and we're so pleased to be able to continue working with her in her new role."
Shortridge Academyis a year round, college preparatory, therapeutic boarding school for adolescents ages 14-18 years old, grades 9-12. Shortridge Academy is the only therapeutic boarding school in the Northeast accredited by the rigorous New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and that explicitly utilizes the evidenced-based Positive Youth Development (PYD) perspective to guide the individualized therapeutic programming for students and community structure. Since 2002, Shortridge Academy has been helping students and families who are struggling with academic performance, loss of interest in activities and increased conflict in family or peer relationships.