About Kents Hill

Kents Hill School is one of the oldest co-ed boarding schools in the country, located on 400 beautiful acres in Maine. We bring boarding and day students together from across the world to engage in self-discovery and growth, both in and out of the classroom. Diversity, equity, and belonging are integral to our community as we actively strive to be an anti-racist school through consistent and ongoing learning for all. Our caring and deeply engaged faculty members truly know each student, and because of that are able to create transformational experiences. With student-centered inquiry at its core, the academic curriculum merges the four dimensions of learning (knowledge, skills, character, and reflection) with PBL (project-based learning) to balance academic rigor with strong support. Students also have the opportunity to explore their passions in athletics and the arts, and develop leadership potential with over 30 clubs and activities.

Kents Hill seeks a Dean of Students and Belonging who is passionate about working with teenagers as they navigate the world in complex and diverse ways and is excited to both support them and hold them accountable. The ideal candidate will continuously work to build a positive student culture through engaging with and knowing each student well, earning their trust, and using moments of discomfort and failure to promote deeper reflection and learning. Our next Dean of

Students and Belonging will be a person who believes in the power of navigating conflict through methods such as restorative justice, alternative dispute resolution, and personal and community reflection and who sees mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow. At Kents Hill, families are seen as critical partners, rather than adversaries. The Dean of Students and Belonging builds formative relationships with students and their families rooted in accountability, collaboration, and clear communication.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the champion for the social, mental, and emotional wellbeing of all Kents Hill students across nearly all aspects of the school program and that each student is known, understood, and feels a deep sense of belonging and safety at Kents Hill.
• Meet with and engage regularly with a range of students to promote the power of student voice and involvement in all aspects of school life.
• Oversee the Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Team and ensure that Kents Hill is: current with issues and best practices; continuously addressing issues of diversity and inclusion from a holistic standpoint in order to best meet the varying needs of our students; ensuring that diversity and inclusion is a critical component of programs, policies, and procedures’ and increasing knowledge, awareness and conversation among our community on issues related to equity and belonging.
• Continuously develop and share standards for the conduct, ethics, and skills essential for living in a residential community, including attendance, healthy relationships, interpersonal communication, and technology.
• Implement and oversee the system for student accountability and safety, including the development of restorative practices and alternative dispute resolution systems, and ensure that all outcomes are student-centered, equitable, transparent, and mission-aligned.
• Assess, as an ongoing process, policies, and procedures regarding school expectations and oversee the writing, revision, and sharing of the Student Handbook.
• Serve as a resource to all students, families, and faculty for all matters related to student conduct and safety, including proactive communication to families and students regarding individual situations and general
• In consultation with the Associate Head of School, coordinate Title IX efforts including mandated reports and subsequent support.
• Lead the Students of Concern Group, ensuring effective facilitation, collaboration, and communication, across the organization, appropriate behavioral interventions for struggling students, and systematic assessment of progress/impact.
• Supervise the Health Center and work closely with medical, counseling, and psychological services to monitor and support student emotional and physical health.
• Oversee and strengthen the advisor system.
• Coordinate student attendance including overseeing Boardingware, student permissions to leave campus, and academic/athletic/co-curricular attendance.
• Co-Chair the Safety Committee with the CFO and lead all emergency and crisis preparedness efforts, including training (fire, active shooter, etc.), decision-making, and response.

Other Responsibilities and Duties

• Teach one academic class or coach one athletic season.
• Serve as a member of a weeknight and weekend duty team.
• Serve as an advisor for a small group of students.