Meet the Team Behind
Clear Directions.

After almost 20 years as a school counselor at Ridgewood High School, Claire founded Clear Directions to provide the quality of time and counseling required to assist students and enhance their success as they navigate the admissions process.

Claire is a recognized leader in the profession, having served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) and was elected President of the New Jersey Association for College Admission Counseling (NJACAC). She has been awarded distinguished service distinctions by both HECA and NJACAC, and is a professional member of IECA.

Claire has presented at many professional conferences alongside admissions leaders. These professional connections, as well as continuing visits to colleges, help her and all the counselors at Clear Directions stay informed of the latest trends in admissions.

Peg Loonam has worked with young people for almost thirty years. She is a certified Guidance Counselor and the former Director of Guidance at Ridgewood High School. After retiring as a school principal, Peg joined Clear Directions.

She spent 15 years visiting colleges, attending and presenting at annual college conferences, and working closely with admissions representatives as she advocated for her students. She is a member of NJACAC and the Higher Education Consultants Association.

Peg enjoys "the gift of time" with her clients — she sees the real benefit of being able to allot as much time as necessary for each client and their family.

Meaghan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Counseling. As a certified Guidance Counselor, she has extensive experience working with students in both public and private school settings.

Meaghan has always been fascinated by careers and how and why we choose what we do. As a middle school counselor, she developed a career counseling program from scratch. As a high school counselor, she administered the Myers-Briggs Personality Test and built deep expertise in helping students connect their interests to possible careers and college majors.

Through her work as an educator and counselor, she has developed a proven program for helping others find clarity in their careers — no matter what age. Meaghan also leads Clear Directions' Career Pivot System™ for early and mid-career professionals.

Stephanie joins Clear Directions after working in both private and public high school settings in Northern New Jersey as a certified Guidance Counselor, navigating students and parents through course selection, career exploration, essay writing, and the college search and application process.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Community Services and a Master of Arts degree in School Counseling. Stephanie is a member of NJACAC and continues to tour numerous college campuses, meeting with admissions counselors and keeping up with ever-changing trends in the process.

Stephanie's goal is to create a relaxed, organized, and positive experience for students and their families — so every client feels heard and supported during this exciting time.

Joanne's goal is to help students identify "best fit" colleges that balance their academic, personal, and athletic abilities — and to prepare successful applications to those schools. As a member of the Clear Directions team for five years, she loves working with students as they discover their college aspirations.

Joanne completed the UCLA Certification in College Counseling, an intense 2-year program that included an internship at Clear Directions. She also participated in a mentorship program with David Stoeckel, President of the College Recruiting Group, providing her with the credentials to advise college-bound student-athletes. She has developed deep expertise in the recruiting timelines and tasks that vary for each collegiate sport.

Joanne is a mother of four, giving her personal experience in the college admissions and athletic recruitment process at all division levels.

After working with students independently for seven years, Jennifer joined Clear Directions while completing her College Counseling certificate through UCLA. Her long career in finance, coupled with her degree in English, makes her well-suited to assist students with analysis and assessment in the search for best-fit colleges.

A self-proclaimed "college research geek," Jennifer loves discovering what makes each college unique — through campus visits, counselor information sessions, or simply reading up on what a school has to offer. As a parent of a medical student, Jennifer is especially adept at advising students on the pre-med or pre-health path.

Melissa is a School Counselor in New Jersey with over twelve years of experience guiding students and families through the college admissions process. She brings a strong understanding of the school environment and the importance of working in collaboration with schools and families.

Committed to staying current on college admissions, Melissa continues to visit college campuses and works closely with admissions counselors. She was honored as the High School Counselor of the Year in 2023 by the Bergen County School Counselor Association.

Melissa received her undergraduate degree in Counseling and Human Services from the University of Scranton and her Masters in School Counseling from Long Island University.

Caroline assists students with planning, writing, and honing their personal statements. She works with students to develop a rapport and select topics that best highlight their strengths — empowering them to write authentically so essays both make students proud and advance their application.

Caroline holds a BA from Bates College and an MA from Columbia Teachers College. She has been working as an English teacher in top-ranked middle and high schools and as a writing coach since 1998.

At Clear Directions, we understand that admissions professionals are reading with the goal of learning the character and spirit of applicants — and they always recognize when there has been too much adult "help." Caroline maintains the integrity of the student voice throughout the entire drafting and editing process.

Joseph began his career as a special education teacher and has served as a School Psychologist for many years, assisting a range of students with special needs and learning differences. His understanding of evaluations, 504 plans, and IEPs provides a valuable resource to Clear Directions' students and families.

Joseph consults at local high schools and presents workshops about the academic transition from high school to college. He is knowledgeable about the range of accommodations that may be available at the college level and enjoys encouraging students to persevere and achieve their goals.