Educational Consultant Returns to Hill

After an absence of several years. Jody Dobson, former Head of the Middle School at Chestnut Hill Academy, has moved back to Chestnut Hill as an educational consultant. Dobson, whose roles during 17 years at CHA varied from teacher and coach to director of admissions and finally to head of Middle School, is now affiliated with the Independent Educational Consultants Association.

"Few choices will have as great an impact as the choice of a school or college for a student," reads part of the Association's mission statement. As a consultant, Dobson's primary role is to help the student and the family with this important choice. His focus is first on the child's strengths, needs, aptitudes, and interests, and then on what schools will serve that particular child in the best possible way.

His first step is to learn about the student. Besides gathering school reports and test scores, he meets with the family for a complete review of the child's school history and has extensive conversations with the child. If necessary, Dobson will recommend further individual testing for a more complete picture. Where possible, he may visit the student's current school and talk with teachers and counselors there.

Using the results of these analyses, Dobson generates a list of appropriate schools for the family to consider. Usually he has already visited these schools; often he will visit again and discuss the child with admissions staff. After the family visits to the schools are finished, he continues to meet with student and parents to help them narrow their choices. And when the child has applied, Dobson stays in constant touch with the admissions office about the progress of their decision.

Dobson will follow the progress of each student he places for at least a year, staying in contact with both school and family. "Closely monitoring the fit of particular schools with particular kids is the best way to keep my knowledge current," he says.

Jody (Joseph P.) Dobson first came to Chestnut Hill in 1976 as a teacher of English at CHA, after beginning his education career at Greenwich Country Day School (CT) and earning, his master's degree at Columbia University Teachers' College (NY). Two years later, he was named director of admissions at the academy, running application, interview, testing and decision processes for grades Kindergarten through 12. His dealings with parents and students in this office began his interest in counseling families about the "good fit" between student and school. Interest and experience grew during his many years as head of the Middle School. where he was the primary supervisor of student life, faculty development, and parent relations in that division.

Dobson left Chestnut Hill for a job as head of the Upper School at The Town School in New York City. There he managed all aspects of curriculum and student life, faculty growth. and parent communication, as well as beginning a program of community service. Before returning to Chestnut Hill. Dobson spent two years at Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, again supervising the Middle School and facilitating their transition to coeducation.

Now he's back, he says, with a "fuller appreciation of the opportunities available for all kinds of students. and of the increasing need that parents have for guidance."

Dobson spends much of his time traveling and visiting schools, locally and nationally. The Philadelphia area. he observes, is fortunate in having a wide variety of superb academic institutions, as well as exceptional programs for kids with special needs. He says there are basically two kinds of schools for children with diagnosed learning difficulties. There are schools which concentrate only on children with special needs, and there are more traditional schools which are inclusive and will accommodate students with learning problems.

So how do parents know which kind of school is best for their children? Dobson says that an educational consultant can help with the answer. Because he is independent of any particular school, and is compensated directly by his client's family, he can provide unbiased options based solely on what is best for the child. With his knowledge of schools, he can offer choices to a family who may not have known of programs that could be just what a child needs. Dobson believes. "Every child wants to do well. Sometimes it's just a question of finding the right school."