Deborah Luckett

Additional Info

How long have you been in your current role? : I am the President and Founder of Top Dog College Counseling and Consulting, LLC and have served in this role for one year.

What previous roles have you held? : College/School Counselor at Montverde Academy (Montverde, FL) Parent Advocate for Students with Disabilities at F.I.R.S.T. (Asheville, NC) Treasurer – NC International Dyslexia Association School Counselor – Buncombe County Schools (Asheville, NC) Compassionate Schools Coordinator (Asheville, NC) Suicide Prevention Specialist (Santa Fe, NM) School Counselor – Summit School District (Breckenridge, CO) Director of Assessment – Rockwood School District (St. Louis, MO) Researcher – UT Health Science Center (Houston, TX)

How did you get started in this field? : After I earned my master’s degree from the University of Houston in Counseling, I began my career conducting neuropsychological assessments for students with disabilities. This led to a position as a Director of Assessment at a large district because of my expertise in data. Although I enjoyed the data and research aspects of the work, I missed the direct connection with students. When my family relocated Colorado, I took the opportunity to transition into a school counseling role at Summit High School where I was able to blend my assessment background with student focused support. I even had the opportunity to run the College and Career and Placement Center and work with our talented athletes in our ski academy program.

What brought you to this particular role? : After spending over 20 years in education, I recently moved to Florida and started working as a school and college counselor at Montverde Academy, a unique prep school with very strong sports and arts programs. I returned to school to earn a College Counseling Certificate from UCLA, both update my skills and learn more about independent consulting. Working closely with student athletes, I realized that while the top 1% rarely need support with recruiting, the next 5-10% must proactively market themselves to colleges. This was also something I experienced with my own daughter who played Division 1 soccer at Furman University. This process takes time, intention, organization and expertise. I ultimately chose to step outside the tradition school setting and launched my own practice where I help students find the right academic, social, financial and for some, athletic fit for their college journey.

What is your best piece of advice for someone new to the profession? : Every position you hold will teach you something valuable. Each experience builds a unique skill set that strengthens your ability to serve and support students.

What brought you to SACAC? : I first attended a SACAC conference when I was with Montverde Academy and it immediately became clear how valuable the organization is for staying current on admissions trends. Even more meaningful, however, are the relationships and professional community I’ve gained either from webinars, workshops or the SACAC Sweet Tea Tour! When you feel supported by colleagues who share your commitment to students, your work becomes stronger and students ultimately benefit.

What has been (or what you hope to be) the most impactful part of your SACAC membership experience? : The most impactful aspect of my SACAC experience has been the opportunity to connect with professionals across higher education, secondary schools an independent consulting. Each brings a unique perspective and when we collaborate, students truly win.

What is your favorite part of your job? : I love the moment when a student starts to recognize their own strengths often in the activities review or essay development. You can see the light bulb go on in their head. Helping students “connecting the dots” of their own story in incredibly rewarding. And getting that text that says, “Bam, I got in!” is always exciting.

What have you learned about the students you serve during the past year? : Students are experiencing unprecedented stress around college admissions process, particularly as Florida’s colleges become increasingly competitive. The pressures of social media and constant comparison don’t help. Yet when given space, support and safety to reflect, students consistently reveal tremendous resilience. Witnessing that growth is one the greatest privileges of this work.

Given unlimited time and funding, what one initiative, program, or service would you implement today : I previously served as the grant coordinator for Compassionate Schools, a program focused on helping educators, students and families understand the impact of chronic stress on the brain and develop practical strategies for resilience. The neuroscience behind stress continues to shape my counseling approach today. If I had unlimited resources, I would expand this type of preventative, resilience-driven programming for all students, especially those overwhelmed by academic pressures or the college admissions process.