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House Parent Position

The Leelanau School Mission

The Leelanau School ignites a passion for learning in a boarding school where students thrive by engaging academically and by celebrating everyone’s unique learning style in a culture of acceptance, leading to successful and meaningful lives in college and beyond.

Current Opening

The Leelanau School seeks applicants for House Parents for the 2022-2023 school year. As a school, we place an emphasis on experiential learning and fostering community through living our values: Stewardship, Leadership, Awareness, Integrity, Resilience, Courage, and Interconnectedness. House Parents are an integral part of our Student Life experience.

The Leelanau School is located in Glen Arbor, Michigan on a beautiful wooded campus on the shores of Lake Michigan, surrounded by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

House Parents live on campus and are responsible for providing supportive oversight in each residential house, shaping the environment into a community in which students can learn and grow. House parents serve on both weekday and weekend shifts, with the division of these duties determined by the house team. As a school, our student life faculty work closely with other faculty and staff to ensure a cohesive experience across the student experience while providing engaging recreational and educational opportunities for students. They are also responsible for writing a nightly summary of students’ behavior and progress throughout the night, to be shared with other residential and academic faculty. House parents are an integral part of students’ experiences with the school, providing a unique and comprehensive perspective on each student’s personal growth and development.

Qualified candidates for this position will demonstrate related work experience and hold at least a Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in education, social work, youth development, counseling, or a related field.

If you are interested in this position, please provide a specific letter of interest and resume to the attention of Anika Eisenstat at aeisenstat@leelanau.org. Please feel encouraged to include any additional media (personal video, portfolio, website, samples of past work experience) that would enhance your qualifications, special skills sets, or interest in our school community.  

House Parent Responsibilities:

  • Serve as a role model to the students.
  • Model constructive and appropriate adult behavior & boundaries for students.
  • Participate in community events as possible (i.e. meals, special events, FAU events, etc.).
  • Facilitate evening activities, clubs and/or intramurals sports.
  • Maintain close communication with faculty, staff, students and parents. (Nightly Log, Daily Reports, Incident Reports, Teacherease, Emails, and Phone Calls).
  • Cultivate a welcoming and safe environment where students can develop a strong sense of belonging.
  • Provide students opportunities that enable social, academic and emotional growth leading the enhancement of their individual developmental assets and life skills.
  • Maintain a visible and active presence while on duty. Rove campus during student free time. Have a cell phone and 2 way radio on at all time.
  • Supervise & support students throughout the evening routine. Assist students with academic related work, residential and community expectations.
  • Cultivate and maintain meaningful relationships with the students. Support students through problem solving, strategic planning, and conflict resolution.
  • Address and communicate any issues or problems that arise.  Willing to work on behaviors and process any inappropriate behaviors (file incident reports as needed).
  • Provide overnight coverage in the dormitory (closing buildings, securing dorms nightly).
  • Embrace and advance the mission of the Leelanau School.

Required:

  • Desire to support and engage adolescents.
  • Previous experience working with youth.
  • Strong communication, organization, and time management skills.
  • Self-motivated to positively impact a young person’s life.
  • Able and willing to use a cellular device, 2-way radio, and computers.
  • Ability to meaningfully connect and engage with students, and communicate with parents.
  • Ability and desire to facilitate evening activities, clubs and/or intramurals sports.
  • Current valid driver’s license and ability to transfer to Michigan driver’s license.
  • Comply with all necessary State of Michigan and FBI background checks.

Recommended:

  • Previous experience facilitating youth programs or activities.
  • Demonstrated experience leading a group of youth.
  • First Aid/CPR certification, or willingness to obtain.