Getting to Know Our Admissions Team

As any family connecting with Quad Prep for the first time will tell you, when you fill out an inquiry form or give our Admissions Office a call, you encounter the immediate warmth and care of our Director of Admissions and Outreach, Anna Christodoulou , and our Admissions Associate, Regine LeJouan. From getting to know our prospective students and their families, to tending to student inquiries and applications, from facilitating visits to our campuses, to welcoming our admitted families, our Admissions Team supports prospective families every step of the way and helps them to feel right at home here at Quad Prep.?

This past spring, our Quad Prep Magazine editors had a chance to sit down with Anna and Regine to get to know them and learn more about their roles here at Quad Prep.

QPM: Quad Prep just wouldn’t be the same without the two of you stewarding our admissions process so beautifully. What has your own Quad Prep journey looked like through the years?

Anna: Oh, I love reminiscing about this because I joined Quad Prep right around the time that I had my second daughter! I had heard about Quad Prep, and I really loved its mission. A child psychologist myself, I love the population of students that Quad Prep serves. So, I met with our founder and Head of School, Kim Busi, and one of our faculty members, Melissa Palatucci, who offered me the role of Director of Admissions, and in May of 2016 (the year that the school had just 22 students), I officially joined the team. That was my title then, that’s my title now — and I’m very much enjoying it!

Regine: I started at Quad Prep in November of 2019, and I can say that it was meant to be. I met with Anna and we just had a really good connection – it was the most friendly interview I've ever had. When I left, I thought, “I feel like I just had coffee with an old friend.”

Anna: When you know, you know, Regine!

Regine: That was four years ago, and it feels like yesterday.

QPM: So, Anna, having joined the team when there were just 22 students, what has it been like to watch the school grow to over 240 students at this point?

Anna: It's very rewarding and gratifying, especially because of the nature of my role, but also from the perspective that we have been able to serve many, many more students, and the school has become much more accessible to families that really need it. It has been very exciting to see what a fantastic community we have become together.

QPM: In the time since both of you have joined the team, what has struck you most about this community? What is at the heart of Quad Prep?

Regine: Every family approaches us so uniquely, and at the same time, there’s a commonality: everyone is searching for that right place for their child to be. And when they visit us or speak with us, they’re able to see a place where their child will belong and be understood. So I think what strikes me most is this unique community that actively seeks out opportunities to help everyone find their place. It’s amazing, and you don’t find that everywhere.

Anna: I completely agree with Regine, and I have to say that my mind also immediately went to the reaction that families have the moment they visit our school and everything just clicks. There is something very specific and very unique about Quad Prep that promotes a sense of belonging.

QPM: I’d love to touch on that for a moment – the reactions that families have when they visit our campus for a tour. What are some of those reactions that you see as families discover this community?

Anna: On the tours, or even when families inquire about our school, their reaction really has to do with an overwhelming feeling that this is a very friendly, very warm, very welcoming community. It is so clear, even based on their physicality, that they immediately feel the passion of our faculty and staff and our leadership, and they also feel a sense of safety here.

QPM: Though the admissions season runs on a rolling basis, we’re really in the height of applications during the winter. Since we’re right at that busy admissions time, I’d love to know: what do you most look forward to every admissions season?

Anna: We always look forward to meeting new families, and to connecting with others in the community. Even just spreading the word of what it means to be 2e, the kinds of opportunities 2e students need, and how our school can really make a difference for families. I always love listening to stories from families when I meet with them during the application process – and this particular aspect of the process is so rewarding.

Regine: I very much agree with that. The stories that you hear from families are so meaningful. Whether they're going through the public school system or they've always been in an independent school, it’s incredible to help families get to a place where they can say, “My goodness, this is a place that my child can thrive in and be understood.”

QPM: Looking for a new school for your child can be overwhelming. How do you connect with prospective families and support them during the admissions process??

Regine: I feel like the moment they connect with us, whether it's by email or they call us, they get that sense that being welcoming and inclusive is “our Quad Prep way.” I get that feedback every time we have a tour: “I can't believe how welcoming everyone was,” or “Everyone really took the time to answer my questions.” And I'm very proud of that – of our entire team.

Anna: I have to say it all starts with Regine’s voice, because she's usually the first person that picks up the phone when a family is inquiring, and she has the warmest personality. She's a person who listens deeply to what a family has to say and is so good at guiding them toward their next steps. It is my goal that, throughout the admissions process, we go hand-in-hand with the family – guiding them, answering their specific questions, connecting them with other people in our community, and overall, helping them to feel as familiar as possible with our school so they can make the best decision for their family. We believe that there has to be a foundation of mutual trust when it comes to a decision like your child’s schooling, so we feel incredibly grateful when families do trust us as the educational and clinical experts that we are.

Regine: That's very true. It's a difficult position for a lot of families to be in trying to find the right spot for their child, and it makes it even more difficult when you’ve had prior experiences at a school that had not been fully hearing and tending to your specific needs. Watching Anna speak with each family and take the time to really support them and address their specific needs is magical.?

Anna: It's a team effort, for sure.

QPM: It sounds like you two make an incredible team! What was it like building your admissions team? Specifically, how is that aspect of your role rewarding?

Regine: The word that instantly comes to mind is organic. Our working relationship, from the moment we met, has just been understood. We obviously had to learn each other's work styles, but it's always felt easy. We’ve built such an important foundation of trust and accountability, and it's understood that everything is going to get done, and it’s always going to be done well.

Anna: Regine, first of all, thank you for your kind words. I would agree – our collaboration feels so natural to me. Regine is such a great colleague and we always laugh with each other. I always tell Regine that if she ever thinks of retiring, she needs to tell me at least 2 to 3 years in advance so that I can emotionally prepare!

QPM: As your colleague, I’ve seen this teamwork in action many times! And as your colleague, I know that you also both have interests outside of the work that you do at Quad Prep. What are some of your favorite hobbies or interests?

Anna: I love driving. That's my passion. It gives me a sense of freedom and independence. It clears my mind. I don’t have to have a particular destination, but I have to pair the drive with some good music, which is also one of my passions.

Regine: This is too funny…that's one of my favorite things, too! I just get up and go for like an hour or so. The beach is very close to me, so I usually head that way for a cruise and an amazing view. Anna and I have never even discussed this before!

QPM: That is too funny! I'm so glad to have been here to witness this moment!

We are so grateful to Anna and Regine for sharing this glimpse into the Admissions team with QPM, and for their care and warm stewardship of every family who walks through our doors. This community would not be the same without them, and we hope that you, too, someday have the chance to personally experience their warmth and welcome!

To learn more about admissions at Quad Prep, visit www.quadprep.org/admissions-welcome or email us at [email protected].?

To hear Anna talk more about our Quad Prep program and the importance of twice-exceptional education, check out episode 26 of “The Curious Incident Podcast”, hosted by Special Education Attorney, Adam Dayan .