“The Partnership of 12 is essentially a support web, if you will, of all the faculty that you will be involved with and see day to day. The faculty that are in this Partnership of 12 could range from, your three academic teachers, to your advisor, your sports coach, and just really anyone on your dorm staff, and I think that makes students feel like they're supported even though they may be either half an hour away from home or all the way across the globe.” — Marissa, student

“It begins for us in the dormitory setting. As a residential school, we are working closely with an advisor who works closely with the dorm staff and who have outreach to any one student’s teachers and coaches and cocurricular and work job. That group of adults knows those students well, academically, emotionally, socially.” — Nicole Hager, Dean of Students

“The fundamental goal of the Partnership of 12 is to have students know that they are understood and supported and appreciated, and to help parents, and to partner with parents in supporting kids in their learning and their growth.” — Hugh Silbaugh, Dean of Teaching and Learning

“All of us together contribute, bringing our different expertise and skills to help the student be successful.” — Bea Garcia, Dean of Faculty 

“This overlapping network, they are all making sure that our kids are getting those social connection points to be successful in the classroom.” — Ken Downes, parent 

“I feel that the NMH community has really made me feel comfortable, from coaches to dorm parents to teachers, so many people have helped me out to make the NMH experience the best it can be.”  — Eli, student

“Upon choosing to go to boarding school, I wanted to have my teachers there for me and be able to have them after school as well. And looking at the NMH Partnership of 12, I knew that you have this parental base that is instrumental, and honestly carries you forward for the rest of your time at NMH.” — Mia, student

“For new students, it can be very nerve-wracking to just walk up to a faculty member, so resident leaders are…  they sort of act as that bridge of communication between students and faculty. So, my freshman year, my resident leaders played a really big part in making sure that I was settling in well, you know, they were always checking up on me the way the faculty did, and I just really liked how they made me feel safe here.” — student

“I was just kind of floored at the fact that there are so many people looking out for your child. It's pretty amazing actually, and they all speak to each other, network really well. And they're really open.” Son Hui May, parent 

“At NMH we create time in our schedule for advisory. So we have a coordinated effort that elevates advising at NMH to a place where it needs to be.” — Nicole

“As a coach, I'm often talking about individualizing my training for my athletes. Same thing is true for me as a teacher. Having the opportunity to talk with other faculty members who have had these students in other capacities really gives me insight into an individual student’s goals going forward. That's always the grander objective — is how is what we are doing on a daily level helping our students feel like they can act with humanity and purpose.” — Grant Gonzalez, teacher

Each advisor has an average of six students (graphic)

“The numbers are small, and we intentionally facilitate that within our structures, so that our adults can know the students who are in front of them in whatever capacity.” — Nicole 

Faculty teach 25-30 students each semester. (graphic)

“I feel really close to all my teachers, my coaches, and my advisors, but I feel really close to my dance teacher, in particular. I have learned not only how to dance from her, but I've learned so many valuable life lessons that I'll take with me forever.” — Annika, student

“Having advising at NMH is really a rewarding experience because you're not only there for that one semester of that student’s life or that one season of an athlete’s life, but you're there seeing the big picture as a whole. You're helping with skills that are so lifelong and so essential. The students leave here with a powerful message that this institution as a whole cares so much about the students.” — Nhu Huang, teacher

“We are a group of adults who are working closely with students to provide touch points for them throughout their varied experience here academically and socially, and we hope to guide them into a very strong place of independence and resilience.” — Nicole

At Northfield Mount Hermon, no one goes it alone.