About Us

Nicole Poloski serves as the Director of School Counseling and NCAA Coordinator at a private high school in Rhode Island, a role she has held since September 2023. Prior to working as a counselor at her private high school in 2017, Nicole worked in higher education as an Academic Advisor for Division I student-athletes at both Bryant University and the University of Rhode Island. Her work focused on academic support, compliance, and student-athlete development, further strengthening her expertise in collegiate athletics and advising. She is an active member of several professional organizations, including the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). With over two decades of experience in counseling and student-athlete advising, Nicole is deeply committed to supporting students' academic success, personal growth, and post-secondary aspirations. Nicole is a proud mom of two boys. Her youngest son is a rising freshman, who benefits from his mom's knowledge of student-athletes. Her oldest son, a high school junior, has committed to Northeastern University to play Division 1 baseball.

With 25 years of experience guiding students and families through the college admissions process, Jen Ruhle has helped countless students from high achieving high schools navigate each step with confidence and success. Known for creating a stress-free experience for parents while making the journey engaging and enjoyable for students, Jen combines her expertise with a personalized approach to advising. By establishing a strong rapport and understanding each student's unique strengths, goals, and aspirations, Jen empowers students to find the right college fit.

With more than a decade of experience as a public high school counselor, Jani has worked with hundreds of students with diverse goals and aspirations as they move through the college planning and admissions process—from early exploration to final decisions. Her work is grounded in both experience and training; she holds two Master's degrees in Education, one specializing in School Counseling and the other in Secondary Education. Beginning her career as an English teacher provided a strong foundation for her work as a school counselor and helped shape how she supports students academically, socially, and emotionally as they make important decisions and prepare for life beyond high school. She takes pride in building meaningful relationships with students and families and believes the most successful college journeys begin early and are approached with care and intention. By staying up to date on the latest admissions trends and maintaining a warm, personalized, student-centered approach, she helps families navigate what can be both an exciting and stressful time with confidence and clarity. She is passionate about supporting students as they discover their goals and find colleges where they can truly thrive.

Elizabeth "Liz" Afonso has dedicated her career to helping students discover their strengths, navigate important decisions, and confidently pursue their future goals. With more than 32 years of experience in education and 23 specifically in school counseling, she brings a thoughtful, student-centered approach to college advising that combines expertise, empathy, and genuine care. As a Director of School Counseling, Liz works closely with students and families throughout the academic and college planning process. Her warm, approachable nature and ability to build strong relationships help students feel comfortable and supported as they explore college options, complete applications, and prepare for the transition from high school to higher education. She is known for creating a calm and encouraging environment where students feel heard, understood, and empowered to make informed decisions about their future. Liz began her career as a mathematics teacher before finding her passion in school counseling. Over the years, she has guided countless students through the college admissions process, both in her school leadership role and through private college counseling. She takes pride in helping each student find colleges and opportunities that align with their academic interests, personal values, and long-term aspirations. In addition to her counseling work, Liz spent 17 years coaching collegiate softball. Her experience mentoring student-athletes reinforced her belief in the power of perseverance, personal growth, and individualized support — qualities that continue to shape her work with students today. At the heart of Liz's work is a commitment to helping young people build confidence, recognize their potential, and create a path toward a fulfilling future.

With nearly two decades of experience in education, Samantha is a dedicated and compassionate high school counselor who is passionate about helping students and families navigate the high school and college planning process with confidence. Prior to entering school counseling, she spent 10 years as a high school math teacher, where she developed a strong foundation in relationship-building, student advocacy, and supporting diverse learners. Since beginning her career in education in 2007, Samantha has remained committed to supporting students academically, socially, and emotionally throughout their high school journey. She is actively involved in new statewide initiatives through the Rhode Island School Counseling Association, including the Commissioner's Counselors and RAMP 30x30 initiatives, reflecting her dedication to expanding student opportunities and strengthening school counseling practices across Rhode Island. Known for her warm, approachable personality and strong work ethic, Samantha values building meaningful connections with students and families while providing thoughtful, individualized guidance. Her reliable, hardworking, and student-centered approach helps families feel supported and empowered during every stage of the high school and postsecondary planning process.

Jen has 20 years of experience teaching high school English and has become a professor of writing at Rhode Island College. Known for her expertise in writing and grammar, Jen focuses on helping students become confident, purposeful communicators with their own authentic style. She has taught every grade and level, including AP Language and Composition, where her students pass at a rate of 96 percent, well above the national average. She led her school in developing PSAT and SAT preparation materials and ran school-wide workshops that produced steady year-over-year score improvements. She has guided many students through the college essay process, helping them earn admission to colleges such as Brown, Yale, and Penn State. Jen believes every student has a story worth telling and works to help them tell it well.

Christina is a certified English teacher and reading specialist with over 21 years of experience in the secondary classroom. She has guided thousands of students in their academic writing, and recognizes the importance of helping students build their reading and writing skills so they become self-sufficient writers in the future. In her roles as English teacher and reading specialist, she has focused on strengthening students' reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. Christina is passionate about empowering students to communicate effectively through their writing by focusing on diction, concision, sentence structure, grammar and proofreading. She enjoys helping students craft college essays that showcase their voice, experience and goals.

Aimee Ryan has been a secondary English teacher for seventeen years. She focuses her energy on teaching students in grades eleven and twelve about reading, writing, and thinking critically. Additionally, she is a teacher-consultant with the National Writing Project. From 2017 - 2019, Aimee participated in the International Nonviolence Summer Institute at the University of Rhode Island and is a Level 3 Certified Kingian Nonviolence Trainer. She has taken what she learned back to her school in hopes of positively impacting the culture and community in which her students live and learn. Aimee spends a great deal of her academic year with her seniors, guiding them through every step of the college application and essay writing process, and focusing on helping each student reach their own version of happiness and success.

Jason Ryan is a high school English teacher and is a teacher-consultant with the National Writing Project. He works to be an agent of positive social change and believes education is the key to transforming society. Jason is a Level 3 Certified Kingian Nonviolence Trainer through the University of Rhode Island. He works hard to improve the conditions in his school, the community, and the world. With four children of his own, he prioritizes education and focuses on being intentional, patient, and a force of positivity to help others build a deep sense of purpose and confidence within themselves.

With 20 years of mathematics tutoring experience and 14 years teaching in Rhode Island classrooms, Kerry Johnson brings award-winning expertise to every SAT prep session. She began her teaching career at Cranston High School East, spent nine years at Lincoln Public Schools teaching both middle and high school mathematics, and currently teaches at North Kingstown High School. Kerry is a 2023 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) recipient — one of the nation's highest honors for K–12 math educators — and holds National Board Certification. Her students don't just improve; they exceed their goals. One student surpassed their 700 SAT Math target with a 720, while another made a remarkable 260-point jump from a 380 on the PSAT to a 640 on the SAT.

Matthew Daigneault has taught Mathematics for 20 years and has an MAT in Mathematics from Bridgewater State University. His teaching career has spanned schools from Australia to Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He specializes in Geometry and Algebra and has worked with all types of students ranging from gifted learners to reluctant ones. He is passionate about meeting each student at their comfort level. He thrives as a teacher by highlighting students' natural gifts and extending their knowledge further than they expected. In addition to teaching, he coaches middle school girls' soccer and is the advisor for his school's chess club.

Katie Cullen is a mathematics educator devoted to helping students build confidence in their mathematical abilities. With eight years of teaching experience across all grades at the secondary level, she has a clear understanding of the skills students need to master to succeed. Her background in Math Intervention helps her assess skill gaps and create individualized plans to reinforce prerequisite knowledge while also building problem-solving strategies and critical thinking skills. In her current role as a core-content teacher, she specializes in Geometry, Algebra, and PSAT preparation. She focuses on building positive environments where students feel inspired to develop a growth mindset towards math. She differentiates instruction for students of all abilities and needs, including reluctant learners. She was named the District Teacher of the Year 2026, an honor that reflects her dedication to mathematics education.

Michael Kropman has taken an unconventional path to becoming a high school mathematics teacher, a profession he has pursued for the past 25 years. He earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in mathematics and never intended to teach full-time. However, after accepting a substitute teaching position while searching for a career in business, he realized education was a field where he could make a profound impact. Michael's strong content knowledge and ability to build meaningful connections with students help him create a classroom environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and taking intellectual risks. He has extensive experience teaching all levels of high school mathematics, from Algebra 1 through Calculus. In addition to his high school teaching career, he serves as an adjunct professor at the Community College of Rhode Island.

Austin Coyle is a high school mathematics teacher with 10+ years of experience teaching high school and college-level mathematics courses. Austin has an M.A.T in teaching secondary mathematics. He is dedicated to helping students develop confidence, critical thinking skills, and a lifelong appreciation for mathematics. He strives to make complex concepts accessible and meaningful for learners of all backgrounds. His teaching philosophy centers on creating a supportive and engaging space where students are challenged to solve problems, think independently, and recognize that mistakes are valuable opportunities for growth.

For over 30 years, Liz has worked with students and families as a financial aid professional, guiding them through the entire process: completing applications, understanding guidelines, deadlines, and regulations, and comparing financial aid award letters. Having worked as both a Director of Financial Aid and a Higher Education consultant, Liz's experience spans a wide variety of school types from state college to private Ivy League universities. With a keen grasp on federal student financial aid regulations, as well as a deep understanding of school awarding methodology, Liz's expertise will support students in achieving rewarding futures. For many students, the financial aid award is critical to attendance, persistence and completion. With Liz's assistance, families can rest assured that they have not left money on the table and that they fully understand their financial obligation.

Susan Kolenda is a Career & Technical Education (CTE) certified Graphic Design educator with more than 20 years of experience teaching art and design. She was recognized as the 2026 RI Art Educator of the Year and has served on multiple national art education leadership teams. Before entering education, she built a successful career in corporate promotional marketing, bringing real-world experience to her teaching. Susan specializes in college art portfolio development, helping students build competitive portfolios for admission to art, design, architecture and related programs.

Eleni Grammas is a mathematics educator dedicated to helping students develop analytical thinking, confidence, and strong problem-solving skills. Eleni fosters a learning environment that balances academic rigor with meaningful support, encouraging students to challenge themselves and grow as learners. In recognition of her impact in the classroom, she was named the Rhode Island Mathematics Teachers Association (RIMTA) Rookie Teacher of the Year in 2022. Eleni's primary strength is Advanced Placement Statistics, where her students consistently perform above both national and global score averages, reflecting her commitment to high standards and student achievement in a highly competitive academic setting. In addition to teaching AP Statistics, Eleni has experience teaching Algebra and Geometry, as well as preparing students for the SAT Math Exam. She believes students are most successful when they are challenged to think critically while receiving the structure and encouragement needed to thrive. Through her teaching, Eleni is committed to helping students build both the academic skills and confidence necessary for success in college and beyond.

Carina is a devoted mathematics educator with over a decade of experience helping students build confidence, strengthen their problem-solving skills, and achieve their academic goals. Specializing in all levels of Geometry and Algebra I, she is passionate about making complex mathematical concepts accessible and engaging for learners of all abilities. Throughout her teaching career, Carina has worked closely with students preparing for college admissions, including leading SAT preparation sessions and incorporating SAT-style questions into the mathematics curriculum throughout the school year. In addition to her expertise in mathematics instruction, Carina is fluent in Portuguese, allowing her to connect with and support a diverse range of students and families. She believes that every student can thrive when provided with the right guidance, encouragement, and individualized support. Carina is committed to helping students reach their full potential and approach their academic futures with confidence.