About
Located in central Maine, Kents Hill School is an independent, coeducational boarding and day school grades 9-Postgraduate attracting students from Maine, the United States, and around the world.
Since 1824, Kents Hill has been dedicated to providing transformative experiences rooted in the power of community, character, and core values.
About Chris
With 25 years of experience in education, Chris has spent his entire professional life preparing young leaders for maximum impact in their careers and communities.
Prior to joining Kents Hill School, Chris served as the Head of School at LEAF Academy in Bratislava, Slovakia; Assistant Dean for Admissions and University Guidance at African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa; and Chair of the Environmental Science Department and Director of College Advising at Kimball Union Academy.
He has also held teaching positions at Colorado Academy, Northfield Mount Hermon School, Williston Northampton School, Milton Academy, and Hanover High School.
Chris is a graduate of Bowdoin College where he earned a degree in Biology and Environmental Studies, and Harvard University where he received a M.Ed. with a concentration in administration, planning, and social policy. Chris and his partner Lisa are the parents of two daughters, Shea and Zoe.
From the Head of School
Thank you for your interest in Kents Hill School. As Head of School, I want to welcome and encourage you to explore our website to learn more about our amazing people, place, and program. I also wanted to share a little bit about what I believe makes Kents Hill special.
Earlier this year, Kents Hill School embarked on a strategic planning process to help chart our course into our third century. Kents Hill is a small boarding school in central Maine that has been an educational leader since its beginning in 1824. Kents Hill was one of the first coed boarding schools in the United States and we were one of the first boarding schools to develop a Learning Center to help a neurodiverse student body succeed. Our strategic plan - KHS2024 - was developed because:
We believe students are facing unprecedented challenges and an uncertain future.
The world is changing at a rapid pace and problems we thought students would face in their adult lives are here now. Students need to be prepared for anything.
We believe in belonging.
Students are able to grow and thrive when they feel they belong. We meet students where they are so that they become the best version of themselves. Mistakes are treated educationally, not punitively.
We believe students need trusted adults in their lives.
Being a teenager is tricky and families need partners to help young people navigate challenges, make choices, and celebrate successes - and because learning never stops- even when we are on vacation - they need someone in their corner all the time.
We believe education should be both local and global.
Education should be place-based and experiential and to succeed students need to feel comfortable in a global community. We are proud to be grounded in Maine, connected to the world.
Most importantly, we believe in teenagers.
At Kents Hill, teenagers are so much more than a test score.
Delivered together, these four core beliefs allow us to provide a transformative educational experience for our community. I can’t wait to meet you and share more.
Best,
Chris P’22, P’24
Christopher S. Cheney
Head of School
Kents Hill is a community that I was overjoyed for my daughters to join because I knew that they would be surrounded by students who are inspired to reach their fullest potential, and by adults who are encouraging, supportive, and care deeply about them.
—Christopher S. Cheney, Head of School
Grounded In Maine, Connected to the World
We believe in the importance of preparing students for and connecting them to the real world so that they are ready for all of the experiences and challenges that will come their way.
In Your Corner, All the Time
We believe in goals and growth, and that we never stop learning. At Kents Hill, learning and growth takes place 365-days-a-year.
Built on Belonging
We believe one person of principle can always make a difference and that as a community we can make our school, and the world, a better place.
Prepared for Anything
We believe that high schools should provide relevant, engaging, and challenging academic experiences that connect students to talented faculty and peers.