The Leadership School at Kieve Welcomes New Director

October 9, 2009

Kieve welcomes Jean Haeger as the new director of The Leadership School. Jean is very excited about the opportunity to collaborate with schools in Maine and beyond to deepen students? learning experiences and help them build relationships, strengthen communication skills and take responsibility for difficult life choices. ?Schools are faced with unprecedented challenges to not only guarantee that students graduate from high school with strong literacy and math skills, but also to ensure that they are prepared for the myriad of challenges facing 21st century workers and citizens,? says the new director. The Leadership School staff is uniquely equipped to complement students? school-based learning with experiential opportunities to develop responsible leadership skills, and Jean is looking forward to facilitating that collaboration.

Jean comes to The Leadership School with 30 years of experience in Maine schools as a teacher for grades K-12 and secondary school administrator. Her most recent experience has been at the Great Schools Partnership where she served middle and high schools as a school coach, supporting their transformation into more equitable, rigorous and personalized places of learning, preparing all students for college, work and citizenship. This experience has given Jean clear insight into the needs of Maine students and schools.

?Maine?s young people are our greatest resource,? Jean affirms, ?and our schools need partners and support to provide experiential opportunities to develop character and leadership. Maine?s youth are our future, and with opportunities to develop and share their voice, they hold the possibility of creative responses to issues our communities are facing today. I look forward to working with the Leadership School staff to help students reach beyond their known capacity and realize their full potential.?

Kieve-Wavus Education, Inc. is one of the Mid Coast?s largest non-profit educational organizations, with a year-round staff of 35 and part-time of 140 during the summer. Known throughout the State of Maine because of The Leadership School that works with thousands of middle-school students, their teachers and parents, Kieve-Wavus also operates two successful summer camps on Damariscotta Lake, Kieve Camp for boys and Wavus Camp for Girls. Campers hail from all over the United States and several other countries. Kieve-Wavus also runs a co-ed wilderness program in Colorado, an Alumni & Family Camp on the Wavus campus, and, since 2002, a camp for families from New York and Washington, D.C. who were affected by the 9/11 tragedy.

"We feel fortunate to have found Jean to lead the Leadership School into a strong future and to continue as a trusted educational partner throughout the State of Maine", says Executive Director Henry Kennedy. As the Director of The Leadership School, Jean brings passion and experience in developing and facilitating transformative educational experiences, organizational skills, and leadership.