Let our team of experts be your guide.
Our team
College Planners USA works exclusively for the student and their parents. Students are empowered to make informed decisions about colleges. Transcripts, test scores, interests, and abilities are all part of the process when selecting options. In addition, savvy school choices are based on the academic, social, emotional, and financial needs of the student. The entire college selection and application process is done with the student and the consultant. Our consultants work as advisors and help manage and navigate the entire process — which continues through selecting the best courses in your freshman year of college.
“It was great how much effort College Planners of South Carolina spent trying to know me personally, understanding my goals and plans for college.”
EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT, OWNER
Jenny Whittle, M.Ed.
Owner and founder of College Planners USA, a national educational consulting firm. She works nationwide with students and their parents to assist in finding the right-fit college for students. She was a forerunner and one of the first college planners in higher education and is now recognized as an expert in the field.
Jenny Whittle is a former certified guidance counselor and former certified teacher( Biology- Secondary) residing in South Carolina. She has taught all levels and ages of children, including special needs students, from elementary to college-level classes. In addition, she held the position of Director of Guidance at Trident Academy for five years. Previously, she has been a guest speaker at several National and International Conferences regarding students with learning difficulties. She is renowned for working with special needs students and still helps find alternative placements for troubled students(youths). She has a Master’s degree in Counseling from the Citadel and a Bachelor’s Degree from the College of Charleston.
In 2005, Jenny Whittle attended a Practices and Principles Training Institute at Johns Hopkins University sponsored by the Independent Educational Consultant Association (IECA). This led to Jenny establishing herself as a successful entrepreneur as she started an educational consulting firm that same year. She also began working as an educational consultant to the CEO of YEScarolina, a non-profit organization established to train teachers to educate others about entrepreneurship. Jenny Whittle is a National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) member and Certified Entrepreneur Teacher Instructor (CETI). Jenny Whittle co-created the curriculum for the Youth Entrepreneurship Program for Palmetto Rose Artisans and the City of Charleston. The participants were taught entrepreneurship skills, and upon successful completion of the program, they were licensed to sell their roses to tourists in the City of Charleston. In 2009, Charleston received the number one livability award from the US Conference of Mayors for the Palmetto Artisan Program.
EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT
Sheila Sparks, M.Ed.
Sheila Sparks is a certified guidance counselor in South Carolina with over 25 years of experience as a middle and high school counselor. She has developed and presented programs for high school students and their parents on various topics including Preparing Now for College in the Future, How to Pay for College, The Standout Factor: What Colleges are Looking for in their Applicants and Transitions: Middle School to High School; High School to College. Sheila has worked with students from all ability levels ranging from students with learning disabilities to gifted students. She is also a certified Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF), trained to help people meet career goals by providing career facilitation and guidance.
Sheila was Guidance Director at Brentwood Middle School for 8 years followed by 11 years as the Guidance Director at Moultrie Middle School in Mount Pleasant. She later moved to the high school level to work as a high school counselor at Wando High School for 8 years before serving as Guidance Director for 3 years. She graduated from Baptist College at Charleston Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling and earned her Masters in Education in Clinical Counseling from The Citadel. Prior to working for Charleston County Schools, she worked as a social worker for the Dept. of Social Services and Community Long Term Care.
EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT
Shelley Hadden, M.Ed.
Shelley Hadden received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Wake Forest University and her Master’s degree in Education (specializing in Human Resource Development) from Georgia State University. Shelley brings a unique corporate aspect to our organization. For over 15 years, she worked as a Human Resource Consultant specializing in training/development and college recruiting.
As a College Recruiting Specialist, she traveled throughout the country to various college admissions offices and recruited graduating seniors for employment. Shelley’s diverse range of experience in career development, training/education, administering/assessing personality tools, and determining placement for a career or college make her well-equipped to address each individual’s specific needs.
EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT
Chelsea Duke, M.Ed.
Chelsea received her Master’s of Education in College Counseling and Student Affairs from The Citadel after receiving her Bachelor’s in Psychology at the College of Charleston. Chelsea’s degrees, as well as previous work experience at many local colleges, bring a unique perspective to the college search and application process. Many of her positions involved working with new students (mostly freshmen), both on the College of Charleston campus as well as students who were studying abroad for their first semester of college.
Chelsea has hands-on experience working with students. From helping them come up with study plans, to filling out college applications, she is student affairs oriented. Her most recent positions gave her a more administrative view of colleges which allows her to have a well-rounded view of how college works. She is looking forward to helping students to find the colleges that are perfect for them.
CHIEF OPERATIONAL OFFICER
Lauren Forsch
Lauren joins College Planners USA as our Chief Operating Officer behind the scenes. She brings her extensive experience systemizing and operationalizing small businesses through her firm, Alluvio, to our business—and at the perfect time as we transition from College Planners of South Carolina to College Planners USA to better reflect our clientele.
Lauren graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of South Dakota, studying international business and economics. After years of working, Lauren began consulting, first in the hospitality industry and later specializing in working with entrepreneurs. She volunteered her time and expertise with a co-working space and incubator in Sioux Falls, SD, called The Bakery, where she helped advise on the launch of more than 50 businesses. From this experience, she founded Alluvio, a firm that systemizes small businesses. While you may not interact with Lauren, know that she intends to design our systems and operations with the customer in mind. If there is ever anything that would make your experience with College Planners USA better, she wants to know!
“College Planners USA gave us the practical, no nonsense advice we needed to motivate our son to look at his options for college. He is now excited about all the opportunities that are available.”