Amanda Tingle-Oline

Amanda Tingle-Oline is the Director of College and Career Counseling at AIM Academy in Conshohocken, PA, where she supports students with learning differences. With expertise in college applications, financial aid, and career planning, Amanda ensures each student is prepared for success, whether in higher education or non-traditional paths. She is active in professional associations like PACAC and NACAC and focuses on mentoring students, building their self-efficacy, and offering personalized guidance to help them reach their potential.

From Intern to Director

I began my career in education as a high school English teacher in Northeast Philadelphia in 2012, after earning my bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in English from West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 2009. I taught English in Northeast Philadelphia for four years before moving to New York City, where I spent one year teaching high school English.

While in New York City, I pursued my master’s degree in K–12 School Counseling. It was through this coursework that I discovered a strong interest in college and career counseling. After returning to the Philadelphia area, I applied for a College and Career Counseling Intern position at AM Academy for the 2017–2018 school year. Following the completion of that internship, I was hired full-time as a College and Career Counselor. In the summer of 2021, when the former director stepped down, I was asked to assume the role of Director of College and Career Counseling, a position I continue to hold.

Today, I oversee college and career planning for high school students, beginning in ninth grade. Ninth-grade students participate in a semester-long career exploration course, while tenth-grade students receive academic planning support to ensure they are selecting courses aligned with their long-term goals. During junior year, I teach a course titled College 101, which introduces students to the college application process, application terminology, research tools, standardized test preparation, and the Common Application. Students also create résumés and begin drafting their college essays. The course also explores non-college pathways, including gap year programs, trade schools, the military, and direct-to-work options, ensuring students understand the full range of postsecondary opportunities available to them.

Senior year involves intensive, individualized support with college applications, essays, scholarship tracking, and participation in our dual enrollment program. Through dual enrollment, students take real college-level courses while still in high school, gaining confidence, earning transferable credits, and experiencing the expectations of higher education.

I also provide juniors with personalized college lists, coordinate college and career fairs, and recently launched an assistantship program that allows seniors to gain workforce experience through partnerships with local businesses in automotive, IT, and home restoration fields.

Strength in Every Difference

At AIM Academy, we are proud to be a school that is specifically designed to support students with language-based learning disabilities, including dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia, as well as other learning differences. It is a part of our mission to help them rebuild confidence while developing the skills they need to be successful in college, careers, and life.

One of my primary initiatives has been challenging the misconception that students with learning differences are limited in their postsecondary options. I work closely with college representatives and professionals to reduce stigma and encourage students to broaden their college lists, emphasizing that with the right supports, they can succeed at a wide range of institutions.

Expanding AIM Academy’s Reach

My efforts have been focused on increasing AIM Academy’s visibility, locally and nationally, by strengthening partnerships with colleges and universities. Through organizing campus visits, bringing college reps to our school, and attending national conferences, I’ve created valuable connections that open doors for our students and broaden our reach.

“AIM Academy’s college counseling is distinguished by the strong, personal relationships we build with students and their families.”

I have also expanded partnerships with local businesses to support our assistantship program for students pursuing trades or workforce pathways, including hands-on opportunities and access to applied learning through technology and programming. Additionally, our college and career fairs have been grown to include a wide range of colleges and career options, ensuring meaningful pathways for both college-bound students and those entering the workforce.

Another major initiative has been expanding dual-enrollment opportunities. Rather than offering AP courses, we prioritize dual-enrollment, with college-bound seniors taking one to two college classes through partnerships with six local colleges. These experiences allow students to experience real college coursework on actual college campuses with a variety of professors, while learning to navigate disability services, including requesting accommodations, interviewing with accessibility offices, and using assistive technology.

Student-Centered, Technology-Informed Guidance

AIM Academy’s college counseling is distinguished by the strong, personal relationships we build with students and their families. With a small student body of 40 to 50 students per grade and a low counselor-to-student ratio, we can provide highly individualized support. This structure allows us to serve as a true one-stop resource, eliminating the need for outside college counselors and ensuring families have consistent, informed support throughout the entire college application process.

Because of this model, students and parents know they can reach out at any time and receive guidance from counselors who are deeply familiar with their goals, progress, and challenges. We prioritize ongoing, individualized conversations, particularly during junior year when we provide tailored college recommendations based on academic interests, school environment, size, and location. Families are encouraged to view these lists as a starting point and to continue exploring options through ongoing dialogue.

We use platforms such as Slate, the Common Application, and SCOIR to help families track applications, build college lists, and review data on student outcomes with similar academic profiles. This technology-informed, student-centered approach is producing real outcomes: AIM Academy graduates persist and complete college at rates significantly higher than national averages for students with learning differences, demonstrating that with the right support, these students can thrive.

What distinguishes our model is the integration of these tools with deep institutional knowledge around learning support systems. Through partnerships with organizations like Pathlitics and YouScience, ongoing engagement with college representatives, and feedback from alumni, we maintain current insight into learning disability programs, accommodations, and student experiences across institutions.

Support That Makes All the Difference

In my role, the most critical element for success is the constant support of my principal and administration. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to do my job to the fullest, or have the level of success, student buy-in, and family trust that we’ve built.

My leadership team understands the importance of me stepping out of the building, whether it’s for visiting colleges, attending state and national conferences, or expanding professional networks. Those opportunities allow me to build meaningful partnerships, gain firsthand insight into institutions, and bring back informed perspectives for students and families. Being able to share personal takeaways, photos, and direct experiences has been invaluable in helping our departments grow and thrive.

When families ask about a particular school, especially one that’s gaining popularity, my administration fully supports me in taking the time, and allocating resources, to visit that campus, conduct deeper research, and determine whether it’s truly a good fit for our students. That level of trust and investment makes a significant difference. Without it, I would be left relying on virtual tours and webinars, which cannot fully replace in-person engagement.

If there is one piece of advice I would give to fellow college and career counseling leaders, it’s to find a school where the administration truly understands what it takes to elevate a college counseling program. Administrative support is the foundation that allows meaningful, student-centered work to happen.