Garrett Renner joins Rye High from New York Law School, where he served as Assistant Director of Admissions and Financial Aid since 2012.

By Ally Murphy

Garrett Renner joins Rye High from New York Law School, where he served as Assistant Director of Admissions and Financial Aid since 2012. Prior to that, he was a Student Financial Services Counselor at NYU. While at Fordham, he worked as a counselor in Student Financial Services.  

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and a Master of Science in Education, with a focus on School Counseling from Fordham University.

What prompted him to venture into a new field? “I feel like the high school setting will allow me to have a greater impact on young people’s lives, particularly throughout the college application process,” Mr. Renner replied. “I have been fortunate to work with some really bright students throughout my career and it is exciting for me to know that I will play a large part in helping to shape their futures.”

He feels the role of a guidance counselor is to mentor students as they being to explore their interests and grow into adulthood. “I think the counselor’s responsibility is to facilitate growth and self-awareness within the student body. This type of insight will be a useful resource for students as they select their course loads each year and as they go through the college selection process.”

For him, the most exciting part of joining the Rye staff is “working with young people on a daily basis. It will be extremely rewarding to be a part of the intellectual development of the student body.”

The biggest adjustment? “Fortunately, over the past ten years working in higher education I have had the opportunity to work closely with hundreds of students and their families. Overall I believe the transition will go smoothly. One of the changes that I am looking forward to is transitioning into the tight-knit community at Rye after spending the better part of the past ten years in New York City.”

Mr. Renner says his primary goal is to provide students with the opportunity to establish a foundation for their future. “I hope to establish myself as a valued member of the Rye High School community, to contribute to the school culture, and to grow both personally and professionally.”  

He is heartened to bring new perspective the District. “Coming to Rye after working in law school admissions affords me the opportunity to add a different dynamic to the college application process.”

His greatest responsibility in working in the guidance department at Rye “will be to make sure that each student receives individualized attention that is in their best interest. Focusing on the unique characteristics of each student is crucial to their growth, development, and success.”

As he starts the first week of school, Mr. Renner said he anticipates that the most fulfilling aspect of working as a guidance counselor will be “to watch students walk across the stage at graduation and know that I played a part in their success and their pursuit of new and exciting challenges in the future.”

The author, who worked as a summer intern at The Rye Record, is a senior at Rye High School and the editor of the Garnet & Black.