As the former assistant principal at the school for 36 years, Karen Hyde was a large influence in the lives of the thousands of students she knew from the 1970s all the way until she retired in 2012.

In the past four years, Hyde has transferred her energy and passion for helping high school students into her work as an independent college counselor with her business Hyde Consults.

Hyde chose to retire in 2012 when her son Mac graduated from the school.

“No one spent more time speaking with students and coordinating school activities than she did,” assistant principal Brian Safine said. “She literally spent nights at the school on occasions when she was working late.”

For Hyde, stepping down from her position as assistant principal was a decision made with great difficulty.

“It is hard to drive by a game, know that Homecoming is ‘coming' and not miss the kids, the energy and the activities,” Hyde said. “I have said loudly and proudly that I had the best career in the world.”

Hyde now works out of her Los Gatos office with around 40 high school students each year, especially athletes and performing arts students, from Saratoga, Los Gatos, Mitty, Bellarmine, Cupertino and Monta Vista. She guides them through the college admissions process, which includes choosing colleges to apply to and constructing a resume. Because of her close affiliation with SHS, Hyde has a deep understanding of the school and its students.

One of her students, senior Megana Saripella, said that Hyde has kept her organized throughout the entire application process and that Hyde’s knowledge of the Saratoga High guidance process in particular has helped to clear up confusion when navigating the college application process.

“She's given me a lot of insights, such as which schools are statistically more successful to early in and what aspects of my life to highlight,” Saripella said. “Without her, I definitely would be very behind.”

For her part, Hyde said she is still working long hours but in a different way from her previous job.

“The hours are equally long, but in my counseling, I sit in my office for nine hours and then do four hours a day during high season editing essays. At Saratoga, I was rarely in my office and was never sitting,” Hyde said. “But I still love that I am still working with kids.”