The College Office can be intimidating, especially to juniors who are just getting started with their applications. While counselors get most of the students’ attention, few know about the person who runs the show behind the scenes. Zoraida Montanez, colloquially known as “Z,” serves as Fieldston’s Manager of College Counseling and handles the office’s scheduling and correspondence. We’ve all seen her welcoming students into the College Office and chatting with them in between meetings, but the importance of her position in the office often goes under the radar. From managing each student’s application process to scheduling meetings, Montanez’s role in the office can best be described by the brown nameplate on the front of her desk: “The Fixer of Everything.”
Montanez arrived at Fieldston in the fall of 2001, transitioning from the corporate to the educational world. “The college program was expanding as Fieldston grew, and the community needed someone who could manage a complex, unwieldy and high-stakes process and knew how to support kids,” said Montanez. “I have been here doing just that ever since.” Her enthusiasm and work ethic demonstrate how deeply she cares about the Fieldston community, to the point where the office has become a second home and her colleagues and students a second family.
Montanez’s primary responsibilities as Manager of the College Office depend mainly on the season. Generally speaking, however, her duties entail “managing projects, programs, events, College Office resources, schedules and applications.” A job description as challenging and a workload as busy as hers come with many challenges, but Montanez maintains her optimistic character no matter what. “There are lots of different things that can present obstacles to families in the college application process,” she remarked. “While we manage that, I am always compassionate about how this affects everyone, especially because I went through it too. But, I also know it can be figured out.”
No matter the season, Montanez always balances work and fun, making room to engage with the community beyond the work-heavy aspects of her job. “Interacting and communicating with our students is among my favorite parts of my job,” she said with a smile. “My other favorite part is the environment we’ve created amongst my colleagues in the College Office. We work hard, but we also know how to laugh and celebrate (and even dance) with each other. They are some of my favorite people in the world!” Montanez treasures the individual relationships she builds with her students and colleagues. Incoming Associate Director of College Counseling Rachel Ehrlich noted, “Z brings a balance of warmth and accountability to the College Office — the epitome of the ‘warm demander’!” Indeed, she always stays on top of things, and one can tell how much she genuinely cares about each and every student at Fieldston.
Along with an impeccable work ethic, Montanez also boasts a wonderful personality. She values kindness more than anything; in fact, her biggest pet peeve is when people are unkind. As she says, “It costs you nothing to be kind!” She spends much of her time outside of work with her other family. “I love to cook,” she said, “and I love Sundays because my family gets together for a meal.” Montanez’s delightful personality and clear-cut commitment to everyone’s success make the College Office less of a place of stress and anxiety and more of a setting for community-building.
Montanez’s affability resonates strongly with students. “She’s very fun to talk to, and she’s an incredible multitasker,” noted recent graduate Sophia Gutierrez ‘23. “She knows the stress and difficulties that come with applying to college, and she always had answers to my questions.”
This understanding of students’ experiences stems largely from the fact that her daughter, Sophie, attended Fieldston since preschool and graduated in 2018. Montanez emphasized how going through the college process with her daughter shaped not only her connection to Fieldston but also her approach to her job, saying, “I treat every one of you like you are my own children! And that means I care about you, and I want the best for you, just as your college counselors do. So, I am going to celebrate all of your wins and be honest with you without judging you. When that doesn’t work, I just bribe you with Jameel’s candy and treats.”
According to Montanez, the fitting “fixer of everything” title came from her colleagues and has since remained a running joke in the office. “I just try to ensure that things run so smoothly that there isn’t much to ‘fix,’” she explained. Montanez’s expertise and trustworthy character significantly help students navigate the vicissitudes of the college process. “Over the years, she’s been a champion for students and the College Office Team,” added Ehrlich. She’s really our core and our heart. Friend, parent, colleague… she’s simply the best!”
We can all learn from Montanez’s optimistic energy, not only as we navigate the college admissions cycle but also as we grow up and develop our characters. As she always says, “Being nervous about what is to come is OK! It is normal. But it won’t feel like that forever, and you know what I always tell all of you: ‘It always works out!’”
