Student Support Systems

Webb School offers many layers of support for students over the course of each year. At the core of this support is the faculty. Faculty share a commitment to outstanding teaching; to extending their experience, teaching, and caring beyond the classroom; to knowing the students as individuals; and to participating fully in the school community. Faculty members teach, debate, and stretch a student’s thinking, reward and punish when it is deserved, and hold each student to high standards. They also invest generously of their time, energy, and kindness in order for students to feel the touch of this guidance.

This nurturing learning environment is enhanced further by several support systems that help students feel that they are known and valued as individuals. Many avenues are open to students as they deal with personal and school problems, or when they simply need some good advice or just a shoulder to lean on. These avenues provide additional “nets” to catch and support students.

ADVISING & COUNSELING

During every year of their Webb experience, Upper School students have as their advisors either a faculty/ staff member or an administrator. Although students will likely meet on a regular basis in their advisee groups, advisors and advisees also interact informally, coming together for lunch or sharing leisure time.

Although advisor/advisee relationships differ, the main roles of an advisor are to monitor the academic progress of the student and to keep attuned to personal or family circumstances that might affect the student’s performance and experience at Webb. In addition, advisors often act as liaisons between parents and the school, working with the head and class deans to arrange conferences when necessary or requested. This system augments the many close informal faculty/student relationships that develop during the course of any school year. Students retain the same advisors throughout their Webb high school careers.

ACADEMIC COUNSELING & SCHEDULING

Scheduling for the next academic year occurs in late winter and early in the spring, and involves students, advisors, class deans, faculty, our college guidance counselors, department chairpersons, parents, school counselor, and the Head of Upper School. Webb encourages students to discuss their interests and tentative selections during their scheduling meetings and to review the Curriculum Guide for answers to many of their questions.

Each department selects those students who may enroll in Honors or Advanced Placement courses based upon recommendations and grades.

We offer parent information evenings for each grade level. These meetings focus on personal development, scheduling for the fall, and college guidance issues appropriate for the year.

College Guidance

Although the record of Webb students in college admissions has been consistently strong, the school believes that the admission of its students into college is the natural by-product of a secondary education that is both rigorous in its demands and broad in its range. The goal of college guidance is to help students make informed choices about which colleges and universities best suit their needs and abilities.

Our college advisors act as facilitators in what frequently becomes an intensely personal process. They help students assess themselves, their preferences and biases, envision themselves in a variety of post-secondary institutions, refine their ability to make decisions, assume responsibility and independence, and learn that accepting risk and the possibility of rejection are important aspects of maturing. In our view, a successful college guidance program is one that finds seniors, within realistic expectations, happy with their college options come April, and even more important, content a year later that the school they chose was the right one for them.

Complete and early college guidance is viewed as a very important aspect of a student’s Upper School years. Webb’s college counselors Mark Seamon and Tyler Lewallen guide students through the process.

Many components form Webb’s college guidance program; these components include: a) Individualized college counseling b) College essay-writing workshops c) Parent financial aid workshops d) College information evenings for parents (fall and spring) e) 11th grade student and parent college admissions workshops f) Comprehensive written profiles of seniors g) Ongoing dialogues with college admission representatives and deans of admission h) Campus visitations with college administrators, teachers, and admissions personnel i) A monthly college information newsletter for 11th and 12th graders and a quarterly newsletter for 9th and 10th graders.

Webb incorporates the body of tests required by most colleges into its individual college guidance: the PSAT is given to all 9th, 10th and 11th graders; the SAT is taken by juniors and seniors; and the SAT and Advanced Placement (AP) examinations are taken upon the completion of the requisite courses.

Class Deans

The Upper School class deans serve as positive, supportive, and assertive role models for their respective classes. They are responsible for supervising, coordinating, and participating in all class activities, as well as facilitating grade-level discussions among teachers. The class deans serve as advisors and general liaisons for questions and concerns that might arise between students and faculty. They monitor the progress of students in their grade levels, intervene as necessary, and coordinate the work of the advisors and teachers at their grade levels.

CLASS OF 2023

CLASS OF 2024

Class Dean Class Dean

Terri Ward John Michelletto

CLASS OF 2025

CLASS OF 2026

Class Dean Class Dean

Heather Hillesheim Stephanie Spurlock

School Counselors

The Upper School Counselors Alex Ardison and Lindsey Whitsett provide on-campus, spontaneous, and scheduled professional support and personal counseling for students as needed or as requested. Students, their parents, and teachers can initiate contact with our school counselors at any time.

SCHOOL NURSE/ HEALTH CENTER

For all medical and health concerns throughout the year, Tommi Goodwin, our school nurse and Health Center Director, serves the medical needs of all students and faculty. Webb's Health Center is located in the Lower School. Nurse Goodwin can be reached at 865-291.3797

Upper School Learning Specialists

Ms. Lindsey Whitsett and Ms. Erin Carter coordinate our services for students with special needs. In this role, they act as an educational resource for students, teachers, and parents.

Ms. Whitsett and Ms. Carter meet with students and parents, review educational testing, prescribe appropriate strategies for students that meet their individual learning needs, and conduct workshops for faculty on a range of educational and learning issues.

Peer Support

The peer support program in the Upper School is comprised of selected students who are trained in listening skills and can offer a confidential, nonjudgmental environment to fellow students in the school community.

Peer support students receive training in the following areas: substance abuse, eating disorders, relationships, communication, school difficulties, stress management, death, suicide, grief, rape, depression, pregnancy, family issues, ethics, and friendships. They are also trained in assessing when to make a referral to an appropriate professional (pediatrician, social worker, religious leader, or psychologist). Upper School Counselor Alex Ardison serves as the advisor to the peer support program.