Paul and Wendy met a decade ago as co-workers at an independent high school in the Bay Area. They quickly discovered that they have a lot in common, including a shared educational philosophy: simply put, the belief that young people succeed when their educational path is meaningful, deliberate, and joyful. With their experience in all facets of education—as administrators, in the classroom, and in the counseling office—they have a unique understanding of how the pieces fit together. That understanding, coupled with Paul's counseling expertise and Wendy's skills as a writing coach, sets Hays & Phillips apart.
|
More About Paul |
With 26 years in college admissions and college counseling, Paul brings a wealth of expertise and a multi-faceted skill set to the table. Most recently, he spent ten years as the Director of College Counseling and Dean of Faculty at Bentley Upper School, an independent college preparatory school in Lafayette. Prior to his work in secondary education, he was Director of Graduate Admissions for five graduate programs at the University of San Francisco; before that, he managed undergraduate admissions and financial aid at DePaul University.
Paul’s greatest professional interest is in counseling. Through his experience at many of the intersection points in education, from middle school to doctoral programs, he has gained a deep understanding of human development and our educational system. Paul received his MA in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis on educational counseling from the University of San Francisco. He received his BA from the University of Montana. He is originally from Chicago and remains a staunch Blackhawks supporter. He lives with his wife and 9-year-old son in Oakland. He can often be found playing hockey with his son, or enjoying bad movies with his friend and business partner, Wendy. |
More About Wendy |
Wendy graduated from Brown University with a BA in English Literature and an MAT in English. She has been a high school administrator and teacher for 12 years. Most recently, she was the Dean of Students and an English teacher at Bentley Upper School, where she cultivated an environment in which students were comfortable taking healthy risks and expressing their views. She taught honors seminars in literature, journalism, and essay writing. She loves helping students find a dynamic voice in their college essays, and she has guided many an anxious writer from messy first draft to eloquent final product.
Prior to becoming an educator, Wendy was a television writer and journalist. She lives in Oakland with her son. When she's not writing, she can be found hiking with her dog, reading science fiction, playing softball, or enjoying bad movies with her friend and business partner, Paul. |