College Counseling
Advice and Advocacy from College Counseling Professionals
Providing Tabor students and families with the support necessary to make informed, intentional decisions is the goal of the College Counseling Office. In addition to being college counselors with 85 years of combined experience, we are dorm parents, coaches, program directors, and advisors who attend our counselees’ plays, athletic events, and musical presentations. We know our students well. As a result, we are able to represent and advocate for students in the best possible ways.
What We Offer
Student Services:
- First year students: 4-year plan
- Free Diagnostic Standardized Testing
- 2 College Mini-Fairs each fall
- Free online test prep
- ACT and SAT Test Site
- Essay writing workshops
- Mock interviews with college reps
- Individual and class meetings
- Seminars
- 100+ college rep visits annually
Family Services:
- Virtual and in-person seminars (including at Family Weekends)
- Kick-Off Weekend with college admission reps
- Naviance Software (info on all colleges)
- Helpful parent portal
- Regular e-mail communication
- Individual counseling
- One-on-one free financial consulting
- Highly experienced staff
Meet the Team
Lauren Boucher
Co-Director of College Counseling
Email | 508.291.8375
Transplanted from NH’s White Mountains, Lauren began teaching English at Tabor in 2011 after having worked at schools in Vermont, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and at nearby Friends Academy in Dartmouth. Working as a college counselor since 2013, Lauren is a member of the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools, the National Association of College Admission Counselors, and the Boston Independent School College Counselors Association. In addition to her work in the college office, Lauren participates in Tabor's co-curricular after school program. Her son, Caleb, graduated from Tabor in 2009. Lauren resides in Baxter House with her loving rescue dog, Cora. She holds a B.A. from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont and an M.S.T. from the University of New Hampshire.
Mary Kate McCain
Co-Director of College Counseling
Email | 508.291.8376
Mary Kate began her career at Boston University, where she worked in alumni relations, coordinated a summer high school program in communications, and directed freshman programming at the College of Communication, including overseeing admissions events, student orientations, and academic advising. Mary Kate was as an Outreach Counselor for Educational Talent Search in New Hampshire, a federally funded initiative that offers college and financial aid counseling to low-income students. She came to Tabor in 1996, where she has worked in the admissions office, and is a dorm parent, advisor, admissions reader, and senior projects committee member. She has worked in the College Office since 2006 and lives on campus in Glaeser House with her husband Andrew '84 and their children Gwen '15, Jack '18, Finn '21, Teag '22. Mary Kate holds a B.A. from Holy Cross and a M.Ed. from Harvard University.
Steffon Gales
Associate Director of College Counseling
Email | 508.291.8391
Originally from Roxbury, Massachusetts, Steffon began his career as at Bowdoin College as an admissions counselor. He assisted with yield admissions events, travelled across the East Coast to the states of Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina to name a few. Most importantly, he navigated the college process for underrepresented and low-income students from all over the nation through the Explore Bowdoin fly-in program. After spending time in college admissions, Steffon wanted to make a greater impact on the students he assisted. With this in mind, he joined the college counseling office at Tabor in 2021. In addition to his work in the college office, Steffon is a dorm parent in Lillard North. He is a huge fan of board games, video games, and performing improv comedy routines. Steffon holds a B.S. from The University of Maine at Farmington.
Aimee Polimeno
Associate Director of College Counseling
Email | 508.291.8372
A native New Englander, Aimee joined the College Counseling team at Tabor after spending time in both selective admissions and the nonprofit sector. Her career began at Colby College as an Assistant Director of Admissions. While Aimee served as a representative and reader for many states, her passion resided in counseling students who did not have access to college counseling elsewhere. Aimee then moved to Chicago to work as a college counselor for the Schuler Scholar Program, guiding high-achieving underrepresented, low-income, and first-generation students to access and succeed at highly selective institutions. Throughout her six years at Schuler, she served at two high schools and managed a region of college counselors, serving as a mentor in creating equity and access in the college process. In addition to her role in College Counseling, Aimee coaches softball, lives on campus, and serves as a house parent for Spring Street Dormitory. Aimee holds a B.A. in Psychology and Education from Colby College.
JJ Reydel
College Counselor
Email | 508.291.8374
JJ Reydel joined the Tabor faculty in 1999 after teaching at the Wheeler School and Montclair-Kimberley Academy. He graduated from Amherst College with a bachelor's degree in history and later earned his master’s degree in education at Harvard University. At Tabor, he teaches two sections of Advanced US History and coaches boys’ junior varsity hockey and baseball. His wife, Anne Gardiner, is the Chair of the History Department and his son, Jackson, is a member of the Class of 2019. In his spare time, he enjoys going on all kinds of adventures with his family including traveling, going to the theater, and attending sporting events.
Ann McDermott
Admissions/College Counselor
Ann recently joined the Tabor Academy staff working in both the Admissions and College Counseling offices. Prior to coming to Tabor, she worked for one year at Brown University reading and evaluating applications for Admissions. Before that, she served as Director of Admission at College of the Holy Cross for more than 30 years. In this role, she oversaw all aspects of the recruitment process, as well as the evaluation and enrollment of first year and transfer candidates. She also played an active role in marketing and brand identity as well as collaborating on numerous college-wide initiatives. Prior to coming to Holy Cross, she worked at Simmons College where she oversaw marketing and recruitment of both domestic and international students. She also worked briefly in the Admissions Office at Curry College. Ann attended College of the Holy Cross, where she majored in Psychology. She and her husband, Ed, also a graduate of Holy Cross, recently relocated to Marion. They have two children who both live in Boston, and a Golden Retriever named Nyssa.
Sarah Burns '04
College Counseling Office Manager
Email | 508.291.8373
A 2004 graduate of Tabor Academy, Sarah joins the college counseling office after working in New Bedford Public Schools. Sarah has served as both an elementary health educator as well as an inclusive pre-k paraprofessional in the district. Sarah graduated with a bachelor's degree from Providence College where she also played for the women’s ice hockey team. She is passionate about working in education and is excited to return to campus. Sarah resides in Monument Beach with her husband John ’04 and their son Tanner.
Get In Touch
Lauren Boucher, Co-Director of College Counseling
lboucher@taboracademy.org
508.291.8375
Mary Kate McCain, Co-Director of College Counseling
mmccain@taboracademy.org
508.291.8376
For questions regarding college, please email the office.