Leadership

At Kent Place, the strongest athlete, keenest mathematician, star performer and class president are all girls. There's no being afraid to raise your hand, no being nervous about trying a new sport or club, just freedom — to explore, to try, to fall, to fly. Our Middle School has 78 formal leadership positions, while the Upper School has more than 150. Strong mentors and female role models embolden Kent Place students to push themselves, pursue their passions.

Learning to lead begins in a student's first days at Kent Place because it is the school's belief that the earlier girls are exposed to the idea of leadership, the more likely they are to take on leadership roles later in life.

Some of Our Unique Leadership Initiatives

List of 7 items.

  • Ethics Institute at Kent Place

    Our pathbreaking Ethics Institute at Kent Place seeks to inspire ethical decision-making, preparing our students to be better citizens and leaders.

  • Facilitation Skills Training

    Peer Leaders, Diversity Council members and Shore Conference leaders in the Upper School participate in an annual Facilitation Skills Training. The goal of the training is to strengthen students' ability to create safe spaces for dialogue, ask open-ended questions that engage their peers in fierce conversations, and bring healthy closure to a discussion where various differing perspectives may have been presented. This life-long human-relations skill is necessary for building thoughtful, responsive leaders.

  • Girls' Leadership Institute

    Our nationally recognized Girls' Leadership Institute, a two-week program for girls entering seventh or eighth grade, is designed to equip and empower participants for leadership opportunities throughout the year.

  • Junior Ethics/Culturally Competent Leadership Seminar

    Designed for 11th graders, this course allows students to reflect on the core components of culture in our society, with a focus on gender, sexual identity, race, ethnicity, religion, nationality and socioeconomic status. Specific attention is given to how these aspects of identity influence individuals, interpersonal relationships and institutions in our society. The primary goal of the course is to expose students to specific multicultural topics and give them the cultural competence skills to reflect on how their own identities influence their role as global citizens and developing world leaders.

  • Leadership Inventories

    The Leadership Inventory is a grade-specific questionnaire given to students by their advisors. The questionnaire accomplishes two main goals: first, it helps a student do an age-appropriate evaluation of herself as a leader and, second, it helps the advisor understand the advisee's leadership history ("smooth? bumpy? in between?") and goals. The information often leads to important and candid discussions that benefit both student and advisor.

  • LeaDs (Leadership, Diversity and Study Skills)

    Our singular LeaDs program — which encourages goal-oriented, ethical leadership by strengthening critical thinking and reasoning skills, consensus building, cultural responsiveness and more — helps our fifth graders prepare for the next chapter of their academic lives, Middle School.

  • Portraits of Leadership Class

    A university president, a CEO, a Tony Award-winning actress — these are just a few of the leaders that Kent Place eighth graders have interviewed as part of this innovative class. For over two decades, this class has provided students with unforgettable lessons on leadership. After studying the impact of leadership through history, each student arranges to interview a leader off campus.
Each year, students take part in myriad leadership opportunities which allow them to better understand how to lead in their own way.

List of 2 items.

  • 93%

    of girls' school graduates say they were offered greater leadership opportunities than their coed peers.

  • 80%

    have held leadership positions since graduating from high school.
    (NCGS, Girls' School Advantage)
Kent Place School is an all-girls K through 12 independent college preparatory day school with a coeducational Preschool, located in Summit, NJ.

  • TEST WHAT'S "EXPECTED."

    That's our mantra in robotics. Try crazy things, be free with your ideas, and see what happens. If you're going to build the future, you'll need to be a pioneer. –Emma, seventh grade

  • LEAN INTO DIFFICULTY.

    When it comes to academics, it pays to challenge yourself. I'm in the Bioethics Symposium, presenting research on the ethics of genetically-enhanced intelligence. At times it's daunting—research, deadlines, time management—but it's also a whole new way of thinking. Very independent and "you-driven." –Isabella, sophomore

  • OWN YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE

    It's one of the "conversation norms" we have at Kent Place, and it's always resonated with me. Everyone has a different and equally valid perspective to bring to the table—so put yourself out there. –Mary, senior

  • DON’T THINK YOU’RE GOING TO GET A LABEL.

    There are no jocks here at Kent Place, no science geeks, no theater nerds. Last month a varsity athlete went to sing at the Vatican. Everyone here has some unique quality — and they’re amazing at what they do. –Claire, senior

  • REACH BEYOND WHAT YOU THINK YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH.

    You'll face plenty of challenges, but push through them. Brilliant women use their resources: their teachers, our studios and library and, of course, each other. If you're stuck, collaboration can almost always get you across the finish line. –Suzanne Carreno-Powers, Math Teacher and STEM Coordinator

  • GET READY FOR RIGOROUS WORK.

    And multiple extracurricular activities. Busy days, and a few late nights. But through it all, don’t lose your sense of fun. –Alessandra, junior

  • MAKE CONNECTIONS.

    KPS alumnae are amazing. I met one alumna after a math and science panel who works in retail architecture. That made me think about a cool way to combine two of my interests — math and fashion. –Amber, junior

  • YOUR TIME AT KPS IS GOING TO OPEN UP OPTIONS YOU HADN'T EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT.

    And when it's time to choose, you're going to know yourself so well, you'll pick the college that's the best fit for you—academically, socially, personally. So don't get tunnel vision. This is your process. Just know that you'll be ready! –Jennifer Simpson, Director of College Advising

  • SOLVING PROBLEMS IS A JOURNEY, ENJOY THE RIDE!

    In the Middle School we do a Science Expo—either two or four people work on a science project for a couple of months and then present it to the entire class. We go into some in-depth projects and it’s incredible what we learn along the way, and how willing our teachers are to help us through the tough parts. –Toni Ann, eighth grade

  • SPEAK YOUR MIND.

    Every girl here learns from an early age how to speak up and speak to adults. You never feel silly raising your hand, and you’re given lots of opportunities to speak publicly. I’m never shy about saying what’s on my mind. –Vittoria, fourth grade

  • ETHICS WILL CHANGE YOUR ENTIRE OUTLOOK.

    Right away, we tackled questions of "right versus right." We're learning to look at every issue from both sides, which helps with everything from homework to friendships. –Elizabeth, eighth grade