Academic Support and GOALS
It is the goal of the Academic Support Center (ASC) to identify the major abilities of students and to find ways for them to overcome problems in learning subjects that may not be initially fully accessible.
We do this without compromising our academic standards.
We ensure that every student at DeMatha will meet the rigorous standards expected of every enrollee at the school with the common preparatory curriculum. The ASC is happy to work with students, parents, faculty, and staff who all contribute energy to this learning process.
The ASC philosophy is informed by the findings of Carol Dweck's Mindsets and Dan Willingham's Why Don't Students Like School? Our center reflects their findings on a 'growth mindset.' Mindsets are one's beliefs about one's talent and intelligence.
We know that one's talent and intelligence are not fixed; they will be altered by dedicated practice, effort, attention, and the adoption of specific strategies. Any program that isolates a students within a therapeutic cell denies him the opportunity to stretch himself to the fullness of his capabilities and to learn to help himself.
We want to instill in students an awareness that self-discipline and perseverance are themselves techniques for learning. We teach long-proven, research based study strategies that allow students to get beyond whatever difficulty stands in the way of mobilizing their full strengths. Students understand that no one succeeds without purposeful practice and they recognize that learning is a life-skill.
Quick Facts About Academic Support
- Open to ALL enrolled students.
- The ASC is staffed from 7:15am until 4pm (Monday-Thursday) and until 3pm on Fridays.
- Emphasis is placed on individual attention and teaching students techniques so that they could become responsible, organized, and motivated.
- ALL academic support services are covered in the cost of tuition. There are NO additional charges.
Academic Support Faculty
Joan Phalen
Academic Support
Amanda Benedick
Academic Support
University of Maryland – B.S.
Johns Hopkins University – M.S.
University of Maryland – Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins University – M.S.
University of Maryland – Ph.D.
Rebecca Taylor
Academic Support
Salisbury University – B.S.
Bowie State University – M.Ed.
St. Joseph's of Maine – Prof. Cert.
Bowie State University – M.Ed.
St. Joseph's of Maine – Prof. Cert.
GOALS Program for Incoming Freshmen
A part of the larger Academic Support network at DeMatha, GOALS seeks to help incoming freshmen adapt to the academic and organizational demands of high school. Through guidance, monitoring and assistance, the GOALS program helps students develop organizational skills and practice study skills while providing targeted and concrete support for current assignments, upcoming tests and projects.
GOALS Faculty
Keith Rafferty
GOALS Coordinator, Social Studies
Georgetown University – B.S.
Valparasio University – M.A.
St. Leo University – M.A.
Valparasio University – M.A.
St. Leo University – M.A.
Johnny Faison
Academic Support
Wright State University – B.S.
Grand Canyon University – M.Ed.
Grand Canyon University – M.Ed.
Johnae Rogers
GOALS, Science, Stag Store
Morgan State University – B.S.