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Maggie Finn and Jacklyn (Jackie) Angell didn’t set out to become entrepreneurs; they set out as teachers to help high school students reflect and write their story/personal statements for their college applications. Today, Maggie and Jackie are the founders of Summit Academic Support, LLC, a boutique college consulting practice. Based in Vermont, their journey from classroom colleagues to business owners is a masterclass in identifying a niche and leveraging professional mentorship to scale with intention.
The story began at Lebanon High School in New Hampshire, where Jackie was assigned as Maggie’s mentor. Bonding over a shared love of library books and "side hustles," the two English teachers realized they shared a specific passion: the college essay. For years, they were the teachers who spent their lunch breaks and late evenings helping students find their voices in their personal statements.
With 25 combined years of classroom experience, they sat through hundreds of brainstorming sessions. However, they noticed a gap in the market. While high-achieving students often had the grades, many struggled to tell a story that stood out to admissions officers. They realized that most families could not access the kind of support that only an experienced English teacher can provide.
The 2020 pandemic served as a turning point. As the world shifted to virtual learning, Maggie and Jackie realized that their college essay coaching could thrive online. What began as a handful of students in their first year grew steadily. By January 2025, they officially registered their business as an LLC in Vermont. Their unique value proposition was clear: they weren't just consultants; they were educators first. They understood how to get a 17-year-old to be reflective—a skill many data-driven consultants lack. "If you don't know how to get a 17-year-old to write about their story, then it doesn't really matter," Maggie noted.
Despite their expertise in writing, the pair initially lacked a formal business structure. "We didn't think about what our value and offers were," Maggie admitted. The turning point for Summit Academic Support was meeting their SCORE mentor, Andrea Barry. Over the last 18 months, Andrea helped them transform from "friendly English teachers" into "CEO Educators". Andrea guided them from a vague concept into a structured practice with clear financial goals. She guided them how to market their unique teaching background as a competitive advantage. Andrea helped them recognize that they were a "boutique" service, allowing them to prioritize quality over quantity.
Summit Academic Support has worked with approximately 200 families across the country in the last 18 months, reaching students from New England to Chicago and California. Their approach is intentionally personal: every student works directly with Maggie or Jackie from start to finish, with no subcontractors or handoffs. A portion of their clientele are neurodivergent or atypical learners. These students often require specialized expertise to help them reflect and revise their writing, a strength the founders developed through years of classroom teaching.
Maggie’s and Jackie’s success is built on a "lifestyle business" model rather than a mass-growth model. Their journey offers several key lessons for other small business owners. Before 2025, the pair often did their work pro bono or for family friends. Professionalizing their services allowed them to build financial stability while maintaining their love for teaching. They don't try to be everything to everyone. For example, they refer out families seeking military academies or fine arts programs requiring specific portfolios, focusing instead on where their expertise in liberal arts, humanities, and STEM lies.
Summit Academic Support results are tangible—not just in the 150+ colleges their students have been accepted, but in the emotional breakthroughs they facilitate. For Maggie and Jackie, the business remains a "human" endeavor. Whether it is meeting a student for brunch at Dartmouth or sharing ice cream at UVM, they remain dedicated to the idea that every student has something worth saying. With the support of SCORE and their own tenacity, they have proven that educators can indeed become powerhouse CEOs.
Where Teacher Insight Meets Admissions Strategy!
You can visit Summit Academic Support at their website at https://www.summitacademicsupport.com/ or on Facebook or on Instagram or by email at info@summitacademicsupport.com
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