Part-time Boys' Dorm Parent for Small Private Boarding School

Position Summary

Chinquapin Preparatory School is seeking a Residence Life Dorm Parent for a part-time, live-in position starting August 2025. This professional staff member is responsible for the daily operations of the assigned dormitory. The Dorm Parent is charged with developing a community that promotes engagement, learning, respect for diversity, and student success, and plays an integral role in developing and implementing the residential life program. The Dorm Parent reports to the Residence Life Director who reports directly to the Head of School.

Required Qualifications and Skills

An Associate's degree is required.

A Bachelor’s degree is required if the candidate will also serve as teaching faculty.

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

Experience working with middle school and high school students

Strong communication and documentation skills, including communication with families and school leadership

Collaborative, team player, community builder

Student-centered leadership philosophy

Experience with residential life and residential life best practices

Ability to establish a strong positive learning environment

Knowledge of school safety procedures

Ability to supervise and participate in daily cleaning procedures

Experience with safekeeping monies (food order and dorm events)

Ability to provide leadership and guidance to student dorm captains

Values constructive feedback

Willingness to participate in community events and residential life activities as directed

Ability to perform other duties as assigned

Duties and responsibilities

Interacts daily with middle school and high school students

Resides in the dorm

Regularly checks for the wellbeing of students

Coordinates any student meetings as needed

Serves as a positive role model for students

Ensures that the dorm space is always clean at tidy, supervises and participates in daily cleaning procedures

Submits work order requests in a timely manner

Creates a safe and peaceful environment and spaces for students to be in

Communicates and enforces Student Handbook and Residence Life Handbook policies consistently, and applies consequences when necessary

Communicates regularly with the Residence Life Director about any student issues, concerns, patterns, as well as positive notes, celebrations, etc.

Makes themselves available to students and is responsive to their needs

Regularly reviews/visits Handbooks to refresh on policies and protocols and has knowledge of safety and emergency procedures

Responds immediately to urgent situations, and knows exactly what to do in case of an emergency (see Student and Residence Life Handbooks)

Documents important information, especially information that needs to be passed on to the Residence Life Director and/or the Dean of Students

Makes themselves available for questions from families, responses to emails and phone calls within 24 hours

Helps the Residence Life Director with events and celebrations

Works with a collaborative and team player approach to their work

Leads with a student-centered philosophy

Provides leadership and guidance to student dorm captains

Willingly participates in community events and residential life activities as directed

Performs other duties as assigned by the Head of School

About Chinquapin Preparatory School

Chinquapin Preparatory School is a private college-preparatory school for 6th-12th grade students located 25 miles east of downtown Houston. Since 1969, Chinquapin has prepared motivated students from Houston’s under-resourced communities and schools for college.

Our school’s unique mission provides students with seven years of high-quality education through small class sizes and intense preparation. College acceptance is a graduation requirement, and our alumni have a remarkable record of college completion.

Our Mission

To provide a high-quality college-preparatory education to Houston’s most able and motivated students from historically excluded communities and schools across the city.

Through a rigorous curriculum and an emphasis on community service and earning what one receives, we aim to produce responsible, well-educated citizens who will become constructive leaders in their communities.

About Chinquapin Preparatory School

Chinquapin is a non-profit college-preparatory school for grades six through twelve, primarily serving highly-motivated youth from Houston’s under-resourced communities and schools by providing a better future through education.