At Bishop Guertin High School, the administration has been undergoing changes in order to better equip students for success throughout high school and beyond.

Former Vice Principal Jason Tesini can now be found in the role of vice president of advancement, and the vice principal role has become two deans of student formation. Kelley Genest, a Spanish teacher, and Mark Phillips, the social studies department chairman, have taken on these new administrative positions in addition to teaching classes.

"The positions were created because we wanted to establish a role that was focused exclusively on the formation of students," Principal Jason Strniste said. "We originally envisioned a single dean of student formation, but when we conducted our interviews, we realized that Mr. Phillips and Mrs. Genest could form a phenomenal team. …

"In the grand scheme of things, we want (the deans) to mentor BG’s students as they develop into people of ethics and responsibility who will ultimately go out and change the world for the better."

Genest elaborated: "On a daily basis, that looks like checking in on attendance, working with the counseling office to meet the needs of our varied student population, meeting with student-athletes and developing opportunities for our students to become positive contributing members of the community."

Genest is primarily focused on working with freshmen and sophomores, and Phillips with juniors and seniors, but the two deans have the same goals in mind.

"As the new deans of student formation, we are looking forward to working with the student body and our parents to provide the best possible learning environment for all of our students," Genest and Phillips wrote in an announcement published in the August edition of the electronic Guertin Pride newsletter.

They aim to accomplish this by focusing on the "little things" such as the dress code, cellphone policies and tardiness.

"If those are managed well, then our time focus can be on bigger issues that may arise," Genest said.

She looks forward to mentoring BG students throughout their high school careers and making sure they graduate with everything they need to be successful.

"The formation of a Bishop Guertin student involves many people, and to … work with them to become their best self by the time they graduate is a great honor," Genest said.

Strniste agrees that a large part of the responsibility of helping students to live up to the standards BG sets falls onto the deans of student formation.

"As a school, we intend to continue producing great students, great athletes, great musicians, but also faithful and ethical people who will do the right thing," he said, "and (the deans’) role is critical to that."

Holly Boivin is a sophomore at Bishop Guertin High School.