Our Team
Mike Kowalchick
Founder | Principal Consultant | School Leader
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Mike Kowalchick’s career has been defined by a lifelong commitment to education, leadership, and community building. Raised on the campus of The Hill School, he was immersed early in a vibrant learning environment where relationships and a love of learning went hand in hand. Those formative experiences inspired a professional journey that has spanned more than 25 years across Montessori, junior boarding, secondary, and university settings.
Mike has held roles as teacher, coach, dorm parent, administrator, and Interim Head of School. His leadership has shaped key areas including:
Admission & Enrollment Management
Secondary School & College Placement
Academic Programming
Athletics & Student Life
Advancement, Marketing & Strategic Planning
All-Boys Education
A sought-after consultant and speaker, Mike has collaborated with schools and organizations across the U.S. and internationally, with engagements in Europe, India, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Bermuda, and Canada. His professional partnerships have included NAIS, TABS, SBSA, OASIS, IECA, IDA, CAIS, MIAA, AISGW, AIMS, and PCA.
Mike earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Gonzaga University and his undergraduate degree from Ohio Wesleyan University. He lives in Litchfield, Connecticut, with his wife and two children, and enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, dogs, and horses.
Meredith Davis
Lead Consultant | College Placement & Advising
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Meredith Davis brings nearly two decades of experience guiding students and families through every stage of the college admissions process. She has worked with a wide range of learners—including first-generation, international, non-traditional, and neurodiverse students—helping each discover their best-fit college in the U.S. and abroad.
For much of her career, Meredith served as Director of College Counseling at the independent school level, where she developed comprehensive post-secondary planning programs. She designed a specialized course integrating executive functioning, college readiness, and career skills, equipping students with tools for organization, self-advocacy, and long-term success. Over her tenure, she guided thousands of applications and expanded the matriculation list by more than 100 institutions.
Meredith’s students have gone on to attend a wide range of colleges and universities including Cornell, Tulane, Wake Forest, UC Berkeley, NYU, RISD, University of Michigan, Georgia Tech, and many others. Known for her student-centered approach, she helps families align around each student’s strengths, interests, and long-term goals, while skillfully navigating the emotions of the admissions journey.
An active member of NACAC and NEACAC, Meredith is also a frequent workshop leader on topics such as finding college fit, supporting executive functioning, and understanding academic support services. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Iona College, where she competed as a Division I swimmer, and dual Master’s degrees from Columbia University’s Teachers College.
Meredith lives with her family in Connecticut and enjoys swimming, travel, and time outdoors.n text goes here.
Dan Keller
Consultant | School Leader | Middle School
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Dan Keller is an independent school leader and educator with more than 20 years ofexperience in middle school education and graduate-level instruction. He currently serves as Head of Middle School at Severn School in Maryland, where he has led growth in enrollment, curriculum innovation, and faculty development.
Dan’s leadership has centered on creating programs that meet the unique needs of young adolescents, including a comprehensive transition-to-middle-school program focused on study skills, wellness, and design thinking. He has also advanced assessment reform, developing data-informed practices to close skills gaps and promote ongoing student growth.
In addition to his school leadership, Dan has taught graduate-level courses at Johns Hopkins University in curriculum design, governance, assessment, and fundraising for independent schools. He frequently presents to parent communities on topics such as adolescent development, executive functioning, and effective middle school practices.
Dan’s expertise includes:
Middle School Curriculum & Assessment Design
Relational Learning & Advisory Programming
Executive Function Coaching & Study Skills
Enrollment Strategy & Retention
He holds degrees in English, Writing, and Educational Leadership from Towson University and Johns Hopkins University. Dan lives outside Annapolis, Maryland, with his wife and two children, and enjoys boating, fishing, and cheering on his kids’ sports.
Dr. Maryellen Ruth
Director of Clinical Service
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Dr. Maryellen Ruth is a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 15 years of experience in diagnostic, educational, and solution-focused therapeutic services. Her career spans public and private practice, as well as leadership roles in independent school settings.
Maryellen has consulted with independent school admissions offices and college counseling programs, helping schools and families better understand learning profiles and student support needs. Known for her collaborative and relational approach, she provides thoughtful guidance to students, parents, and educators navigating complex academic and developmental challenges.
Her clinical expertise includes:
Comprehensive & Targeted Evaluations
ADHD & Executive Functioning
Autism & Learning Differences
Emotional Regulation & Transition Coaching
Maryellen has lectured widely on learning differences, executive functioning, and emotional development, bringing both clinical depth and practical strategies to her audiences.
She lives in Northwest Connecticut with her husband, three children, and two dogs.
Bill Bucklin
Consultant | Writing Coach | Advisor
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Bill Bucklin is a seasoned educator, consultant, and writing coach with more than 40 years of experience shaping educational communities and empowering learners. Recognized as a benchmark for relational and individual learning, Bill’s passion for teaching began as an English scholar at Brown University and has since spanned both public and private schools. Throughout his career, he has served in numerous roles, including teacher, curriculum leader, new faculty mentor, and writing and communication advisor to students, teachers, and administrators.
Bill’s value-based approach puts confidence at the forefront of the writing process. He focuses on meeting each author where they are to help them find their most authentic voice, building strategies and insights that serve them for a lifetime of expression.
In addition to his work as a writing coach and advisor for TKG, Bill serves as a liaison for school clients, focusing on faculty and staff retention and building positive, mission-driven cultures within communities. Bill earned his undergraduate degree from Brown University and his master's degree from Central Connecticut. He lives in Litchfield with his wife and dog and is an active member of his community, serving as a docent at The Tapping Reeve Law School and Litchfield Historical Society. He is also a Certified Lay Servant for the United Methodist Church of Litchfield and Bantam.
Heather Badaracco
Consultant | Advocate
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Heather Badaracco is a dedicated preschool teacher in an integrated program that serves students with a wide range of developmental delays alongside their community peers. With more than 20 years of experience as an elementary special education teacher, she is known for leading her classroom with patience, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to supporting both her students and their families.
Throughout her career, Heather has worked with students across diverse needs and abilities. Her experience includes teaching children with ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, students on the autism spectrum, physical disabilities, selective mutism, seizure disorders, Koolen-de Vries Syndrome, Angelman’s Syndrome, and traumatic brain injuries. Heather is also trained and certified in: Wilson, Orton Gillingham, Fundations Reading Program, and Visualizing and Verbalizing.
She has supported students and families requiring out-of-district placements and better understanding their special education services.
Heather’s expertise extends beyond the classroom. She provides special education advocacy for families and students, with a focus on:
Navigating Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meeting processes
Developing and implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for elementary school students
Delivering Structured Literacy programming for students with reading disabilities, including dyslexia
Conducting and interpreting educational evaluations
School Placement
Heather’s professional journey reflects her deep belief in the potential of every child and her commitment to building inclusive, supportive learning environments where students can thrive.
Heather holds both a B.A. and M.A. in Special Education from Southern Connecticut State University. Heather lives in Connecticut with her husband, their three children, and their dog. Outside of the classroom, Heather enjoys reading, traveling with her family, and cheering on her children at their many sporting events.
Jim Strub
Consultant | Athletic Recruiting Advisor
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Jim Strub is an experienced consultant and athletic recruiting advisor, bringing decades of experience working with schools and families. A former lacrosse player at Brown University, he went on to coach at the collegiate level for Brown, SUNY Stony Brook, and UMass Amherst. Through these roles, Jim developed a deep understanding of the diverse and often unique processes at different colleges, working directly with student-athletes, administrators, and admissions and financial aid officers.
After his college coaching career, Jim became a practicing attorney in Connecticut, a role he has held for over 20 years. He continued to stay involved in lacrosse, coaching at the professional level with the MLL’s Bridgeport Barrage, as well as at the high school, prep, and youth levels. This broad experience has given him a unique skill set to help students and parents navigate the complex independent school and college search processes.
In addition to assisting families, Jim also works with school administrators, coaches, and athletic departments to identify and solve institutional challenges. Beyond his work at TKG and his legal career, he is the President of the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, CT, and spent 15 years as an alumni interviewer for Brown University. He holds an A.B. from Brown University and a J.D. from Western New England University. Jim lives in Litchfield, Connecticut, with his wife, two children, and three cats. He's also known for enjoying shoveling snow.
Adam Man
Senior Consultant | School Leader
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Adam Man is a seasoned school leader and consultant with over 25 years of experience across public, independent, and international education. For 16 years, he served as Head of School at The Forman School, a nationally recognized boarding school for students with language-based learning differences and ADHD. Under his leadership, the school achieved record enrollment, major fundraising milestones, campus expansion, and the launch of innovative academic and student life programs.
Adam’s expertise spans:
Strategic Planning & Organizational Change
Pedagogy & Faculty Development
Neurodiversity & Inclusive Practice
Project-Based & Experiential Learning
School Culture & Leadership
As a consultant, Adam draws on a global perspective, informed by visiting schools and universities worldwide and collaborating with leading thinkers in education. His consulting and speaking engagements help schools navigate meaningful change and design student-centered learning environments that meet the demands of a changing world.
Adam began his career as a classroom teacher and later held leadership roles at Brewster Academy, Baltimore City College, and St. Timothy’s School. He holds a B.A. from Bard College and an M.Ed. from the University of New Hampshire.
Adam lives in New Hampshire with his wife and their two dogs. He enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling.
Kevin Zifcak
Consultant | Athletic Recruiting Advisor
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Kevin Zifcak is a veteran independent school professional leveraging over 30 years of experience in admissions, financial aid, and coaching to serve as an Educational Consultant. His extensive background—including roles as Director of Admission and Director of Financial Aid—provides families with comprehensive guidance through the complex application and financial aid processes. Kevin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in prep school athletics, with a specific focus on ice hockey recruiting. As a highly successful coach, he has led programs at multiple levels, including Head Men’s Coach at Assumption College and Bridgeton Academy and Boy’s and Girl’s Head Coach at Worcester Academy. Critically, his career includes helping place hundreds of athletes at the prep school and collegiate level, offering a direct link for aspiring student-athletes and their families to the next stage of their careers.
Kevin is a graduate of Bowdoin College and holds a master’s degree in communications from Clark University. He lives in the Worcester area and is an avid fan of the Bruins, Patriots, and Yankees.
TKG Educational Experience
Our Consulting team is comprised of dedicated, like-minded educators, consultants, and clinical psychologists with extensive experience across diverse educational roles and services. The positions highlighted below represent a sampling of their collective expertise and leadership, reflecting—but not limited to—the breadth of their contributions to the field.
Head of School
Interim Head of School
Head of Middle School
Associate Head of School for External Affairs
Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Management
Director of Advancement
Director of Admissions
Director of Residential Life
College Admission Counselor
NOLS Program Leader
Director of Diagnostic Services
Director of Student Life
Director of Project Based Learning
Director of College Counseling
Secondary School Placement Counselor
Dean of Faculty
Dean of Students
Dean of College Advising
Head of Advisory Program
Educational Consultant
Department Chair
Athletic Director
NCAA Division I, II, and III Coach and Recruiter
Professional Coach
NCAA Recruiter and Consultant
Board of Trustees
Board of Trustee Chair
Teacher
Coach
Dorm Parent
Therapist
Counselor