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A Conversation with Stacey Jones In our interview with Stacey Jones, the Dean of Students at the Intermediate Program, we asked her what she hopes students get out of their summer at Explo. Instead of one thing, Stacey says Explo should be place where students get to "choose their own adventure" -- and that she and the rest of the Dean's Office are there to make sure every student gets the adventure they want. You're the Dean of Students here at Explo. How would you describe your job? If someone were to ask you what you do at Explo, what would you tell them?
Stacey. My job is to make sure kids are taken care of. And that's really short, but that's everything. When I talk to families on opening day, I basically describe the Dean's Office as the place to make sure that your child's safety is taken care of -- their physical safety as well as their emotional safety. We're also the office that communicates directly with families, so if families want to be in touch with the Program, it's the Residence and Day Directors who they're talking to, along with the Deans.
And what is your job the rest of the time -- the other ten and a half months of the year?
Stacey. I do the same thing! [Laughs.] I'm the Assistant Dean of Students at St. Paul's School [in Concord, NH]. There, it's pretty much the same: I talk to students. You know, life doesn't stop just because kids are away at boarding school or here at Explo. And, you know, the Dean's Office is really the place that communicates with home, bridging what happens at school and what's happening at home.
What is your goal for a child who comes to Explo? What do you hope a child gets out of his or her summer here?
Stacey. It's different for everybody, but I see the Dean's Office as the place ensures that their experience is not obstructed. You know, we can't dictate the kind of experience a kid has, but we create the environment. So we make it safe; we provide support; we listen; we help students problem-solve. So in the end, it's like a "choose your own adventure." We don't choose the path they're going to take, but we set the stage so that they can get whatever experience they choose.
What's your number one priority during the summer, would you say?
Stacey. To get the students home safe. Before students arrive I get nervous, you know, not because I'm scared but because it's important. Families literally are bringing their children and leaving them with us. Here at Explo, that's for three weeks, maybe six weeks, and they're trusting that we're going to keep their child safe. The work that the Deans do, we support the RA's and DA's so that they can support the students, because faculty can't support kids unless they're supported.
You've used the word "support" a few times. What does that mean to you?
Stacey. I think the biggest piece in support is really just listening because it's one thing to tell people how to solve something, but it's another thing when you're partnering with them to come up with something that's going to be best for them. You know, there's a difference between listening to a kid who's struggling with something and just telling them how to react.
A big part of Explo is trying new things. Why do you think that's important for kids at this age, or children in general?
Stacey. There comes a point for everybody where you realize that there doesn't have to be a set path. It opens their eyes to, you know, wherever you're from, whatever your background is, that doesn't have to be the end to your story. You can figure out wherever you want to go. And it's important to be able to experience that, again, in a safe, contained environment. It really propels them forward.
Last question: When Explo's in full motion, what does that look like?
Stacey. It looks like kids with balloons tied to their wrists. Staff members with socks pulled up to their knees. Today everyone's walking around wearing eye-patches because we're trying to remind ourselves to "keep an eye out for kids." Music is blaring. There's yelling. There's giggling. You'll see a kid sitting in a corner reading a book alone, because that's what they choose to do. It looks like, it sounds like, and it feels like -- it feels busy. It feels really, really busy.
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ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
Stacey Jones, on why she comes back to the Intermediate Program:
Because I get to see the work happen and the results happen in a much different way. You know, I shouldn't tell you this, but I would never work this hard for St. Paul's! [Laughs.] Never! And not because it wouldn't be worth it, but there's something about being in a place where everybody is -- like, I know without even asking that we all have the same exact goal. There's this fundamental trust among everybody working here that we all have the same goal in mind. And so, you know, I've stripped beds, I've washed coolers, I've gone on trips, whatever. Everybody is willing to go full-out so that this is a really good experience for students. And it's rare that you ever get to work in a place like that.
You know, title doesn't matter, age doesn't matter. It's all about making Explo work, that's the bottom line. And everybody's just willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. |
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