READFIELD — Christopher Cheney has spent the last few months meeting staff and getting to know the community since he was named the new leader of Kents Hill School. He’s also remembering what it’s like to live in America.

“(Living abroad) was an amazing experience, but we’re excited to reconnect with Maine,” Cheney said during an interview in the Readfield school’s new dining commons. “This community is a wonderful place, and we’re excited.”

Lisa Dilorio, left, and Chris Cheney, who have joined Kents Hill School staff as an English teacher and Head Of School, respectively, visit the school's Bibby and Harold Alfond Dining Commons. Staff photo by Joe Phelan

Cheney took over as the 20th Head of School in Kents Hill’s 193-year history on July 1 after moving back to Maine from Slovakia with his wife, Lisa Dilorio, and two daughters. While in the central European country, Cheney helped start an independent boarding school in the capital city of Bratislava.

Before working in Slovakia, Cheney and his family lived in South Africa, where he worked at two new leadership academies in Johannesburg.

He was drawn to the opportunity at Kents Hill because of shared principles about education.

“There was a lot of alignment as a school in terms of character education, values-based education and leadership,” he said. “It resonated with me as I thought about education.”

Cheney said it’s a very competitive market and trying to find enough people to pay the $31,000-per-year day tuition rate isn’t easy, but the goal is the same: to find the potential in every student.

“A high school education can set a kid up for success, and kids who get the right tools and learn how to use them can be much more successful,” he said.

Board of Trustees President Edward Lane III said the board anticipates Cheney’s tenure with confidence and called him an accomplished leader.

“He is deeply committed to ensuring that each student reaches their full potential,” Lane said.

While working internationally, Cheney gained experience with different cultures, something he thinks will mesh well at Kents Hill, which has students from about 20 countries.

After having just 17 heads of school in nearly 190 years, Kents Hill has undergone some turnover at the top since Rist Benneford retired in 2011 after 21 years leading the school. Jeremy LaCasse’s contract was not renewed in 2013, and his replacement, Patrick McInerney, announced last year that he would retire in June 2017.

Cheney said despite the changes, his predecessors all did good things he hopes to continue.

“It’s an organization that has had some transition, but I’m looking at this as a long-term thing and how I help Kents Hill position itself for its third century,” he said. “It’s about looking forward.”

Inside the new dining hall, various countries’ flags adorn the top of the structure, representing some of the students who attend or have attended the institution. The Cheneys insist that the Slovakia and South African flags were not put next to each other on purpose.

“We took that as a sign,” said Cheney’s wife, Lisa, an English teacher at the school. “Our opportunity is endless.”

Jason Pafundi can be contacted at 621-5663 or at:

jpafundi@centralmaine.com

Twitter: jasonpafundiKJ

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