Guidance & Counseling:
Be Prepared

Welcome

The philosophy of the Saint Francis High School Guidance and Counseling Department has its roots in the tradition of Holy Cross. Our commitment is to educate the whole person by providing an environment where students achieve their highest potential through intellectual, social and spiritual development. The Guidance and Counseling Department strives to encourage individuals to grow in awareness of their potential and to become lifelong learners with the capacity to be successful in a rapidly changing world. As a department, we seek to empower students to examine their possibilities during the high school years and to set personal and academic goals that will lead to success. Our vision is to enhance the life of our students by assisting in the realistic and mature decisions they will make about academic, college and career goals.

A distinguishing strength of the Saint Francis Guidance and Counseling Department is our model of assigning students a consistent counselor to work with throughout the entire high school experience. This connection nurtures our students as they transition through the academic and social expectations of high school. Additionally, this four-year perspective makes the college counseling process more personal, enabling our students to find the best individual college fit.

Sincerely,
Susan Marquess
Head of Guidance and Counseling

Counseling Department Personnel

Susan Marquess: Head of Guidance and Counseling

E-mail; 650-968-1213 ext. 228

Mrs. Marquess begins her 18th year as a guidance counselor and her 11th year as Department Chair. She graduated from Santa Clara University with a B.A. in Sociology and received her M.A. in Counseling Arts as well as a P.P.S. Credential from Santa Clara University. Mrs. Marquess is a member of NACAC, WACAC, and BASSIC, as well as a site chair for the North Bay College Case Studies Program.

Sally Leitch: Guidance Counselor

E-mail; 650-968-1213 ext. 251

Mrs. Leitch has served as a guidance counselor at Saint Francis High School for ten years. She graduated from Cedar Crest College with a B. A. in English and holds a M.A. in Counseling from Seton Hall University. Mrs. Leitch is a member of WACAC, NACAC, and the moderator of the Teen Awareness Club. She is also a counselor leader for Daybreak, the Saint Francis High School grief support group.

Annette Nassir: Guidance Counselor

E-mail; 650-968-1213 ext. 222

Ms. Nassir joins the Saint Francis High School guidance staff this year with extensive experience in college admissions, most recently at University of California at Berkeley and previously at Drexel University and Wesleyan College. She also served as a college advisor at Palo Alto High School. She graduated from Wesleyan College with a B.A. in History and Sociology and has completed course work at the University of Chicago in Social Sciences. Ms. Nassir is a member of WACAC.

Kimberly Oden: Guidance Counselor

E-mail; 650-968-1213 ext. 250

Ms. Oden: begins her sixth year as a guidance counselor at Saint Francis High School. She holds a B.A. in Public Policy from Stanford University and a M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University. She currently holds the position of Diversity of Coordinator at Saint Francis High School and belongs to NACAC, WACAC and the Association of Black Psychologists. She is also a counselor leader for Daybreak, the Saint Francis High School grief support group.

Dan Quinn: Guidance Counselor

E-mail; 650-968-1213 ext. 679

Mr. Quinn joins the Guidance and Counseling Department this year while continuing his role of teacher for AP English Language at Saint Francis High School. He graduated from Santa Clara University with a B.A. in English and holds a M.A. in English Literature from San Francisco State University. Mr. Quinn in a member of WACAC and the National Council of Teacher’s of English.

Nancy Redding: Learning Specialist and Freshmen Counselor

E-mail; 650-968-1213 ext. 677

Mrs. Redding adds her 30 year experience of teaching, testing, tutoring and advising students who have learning or attention difficulties to the Saint Francis Guidance and Counseling Department. Her education includes a B.S. in Education from U. of Texas, Austin and a M.Ed. in Special Education from U. of Utah with a specialty in Learning Disabilities. She also taught three years of teaching high school English/Resource. Nancy is a member of the International Dyslexia Assn. (Board Member of Northern CA branch) and the Learning Disabilities Assn. of America and is also on the faculty of DeAnza College.

Brother Sam Robin, C.S.C.: Guidance Counselor and Substance Abuse Coordinator

E-mail; 650-968-1213 ext. 242

Bro. Sam Robin, C.S.C. begins his 20th year as a guidance counselor and Substance Abuse Coordinator for the Guidance and Counseling Department. His education includes a B.A. in Sociology and Social Studies from St. Edward’s University and a M.A. in Counseling from Our Lady of the Lake University. He also holds a Certificate in Alcohol/Drug Studies from UCLA and works with the Center for Application of Substance Abuse Technologies at University of Nevada, Reno.

Sherrie Tasnady: Guidance Counselor

E-mail; 650-968-1213 ext. 224

Ms. Tasnady begins her 21st year as a guidance counselor at Saint Francis High School and her 31st year in education. She graduated from the University of California at Davis with a B.S. in Education as well as Life California Teaching Credentials in both English and Social Science. She received her M.A. in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College. She is a member of NACAC and WACAC as well as a trained Consultant of the UC Berkeley Bay Area Writing Project. She is the moderator of the California Scholarship Federation and oversees the peer-tutoring program. She is also a counselor leader for Daybreak, the Saint Francis High School grief support group.

Thomas Tuite: Guidance Counselor

E-mail; 650-968-1213 ext. 223

Mr. Tuite begins his 19th year as a guidance counselor at Saint Francis High School. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from San Jose State as well as California State Teaching Credential. He currently belongs to WACAC and the National Council for Teachers of Social Studies.