Annie Edwards is Lincoln Academy’s new Director of Career and Academic Counseling.
Lincoln Academy welcomes a new Director of Career and Academic Counseling this fall. Annie Edwards, a long time faculty member at Northwood School in Lake Placid, New York, begins the position in August, filling the vacancy left by departing CAC Director Eliza Gleason.
Edwards is a Maine native. Born in Houlton and raised in Waterville, Edwards graduated from Waterville Senior High School. She attended Wavus Camp in Jefferson, which she described as “life changing,” and spent summers working in the service industry in Boothbay Harbor, before going to college at St. Lawrence University, not far from Lake Placid, where she took a job after college.
Edwards and her husband, Jeff, were looking for opportunities to return to Maine when the position at Lincoln Academy became available earlier this summer. “We have family here in Maine, and I am very familiar with the area. It seemed like the right opportunity at the right time,” she said.
During her time at Northwood School, Edwards wore many hats, including language department chair, Academic Director, Associate Director of College Guidance, and Advisor to the Community Service program, as well as taught French, English and psychology. In 2017 Edwards’s husband had the opportunity to relocate to Asia to promote and produce endurance sports events. The Edwards moved to Beijing and Annie Edwards worked as Director of University Guidance at Beijing City International School. The Edwards stayed in Beijing until the global pandemic forced them to return to the United States.
Edwards finished that academic year counseling her students remotely. She then served as part of the academic team at New York Ski Education Foundation for the Winter Term program. She designed curricula for student-athletes training in the Olympic region in the disciplines of alpine, freestyle, and Nordic skiing for the winter months while earning her second master’s degree in international school counseling. Most recently Edwards spent a year at Northwood School in the school counseling department. Edwards shared, “I focused on helping students manage stress and anxiety through mindfulness-based activities. Many teens are stressed about academics, social stress, family issues, and big life changes. Mindfulness relaxation techniques can help students feel more centered and ready to tackle tasks in their daily lives.”
Edwards brings years of experience in education and career and college counseling to her new role. She is a certified school counselor and holds two Masters degrees as well as a certification in college counseling.
“I have worked with students from a wide variety of backgrounds and interests who pursued many different postsecondary pathways,” Edwards explained. This includes students entering the workforce or armed services, domestic and international students going to colleges in the US and internationally, and those interested in art, music, and vocational programs. “I am excited to get to know students at Lincoln Academy and help them determine their next chapter in their career or academic trajectory.”
“Annie is coming to this job with a great deal of experience, but more importantly, she really enjoys teenagers and is excited to help them plan for their futures,” said LA Director of Curriculum and Instruction Kelley Duffy. “She has hit the ground running and has already been meeting with students virtually. I think she is going to bring a wonderful mix of energy, experience, and enthusiasm.”
“We couldn’t be more fortunate than to have Annie join us at Lincoln,” said LA Head of School Jeffrey Burroughs. “She brings decades of experience in both the U.S. and internationally to her role in the Career and Academic Counseling office. She will be an outstanding member of our team.”
