Milton Hershey School offers a world-class educational experience to students from qualifying families who are looking for greater opportunities. This cost-free, private, residential school for pre-K through 12th grade is funded in perpetuity by a trust established by chocolatier Milton S. Hershey and his wife, Catherine. Students live on campus in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where hardworking houseparents provide a positive, structured home life all year round. The school’s vision centers on high-quality academics, college and career readiness, and providing students with the skills necessary to be successful in all aspects of life.
Milton Hershey School employs over 250 houseparent couples to work together and live with a small group of students over several years. A houseparent’s role is to teach skills and values outside of school hours to help them succeed. They are someone each child can trust as they grow up in a stable but fun environment.
Houseparent couples shape the lives of children in their care by helping students build strong character and social and emotional habits for both personal and academic success. Learn more about houseparenting at MHS on their website.
Working at Milton Hershey School is much more than a job. Every employee helps fulfill the mission that Milton and Catherine Hershey started in 1909. Houseparents, in particular, play a special role in the delivery of this mission. If that sounds fulfilling to you, MHS may be the perfect place for your next career move. See what it takes to be a houseparent at MHS on their website.
Not many careers allow you to bring your family to work, but at Milton Hershey School, it’s encouraged. Houseparents can have up to three dependent children living with them in their personal apartment attached to a student home. Kids of houseparents attend a high-quality, local public school or discover private and homeschooling options.
Houseparent children can take part in the day-to-day activities alongside the students in your care, including meals, playing games together, and supporting each other in after-school activities, whether at school or in the local community.
What It Takes
Houseparenting is a career and lifestyle for couples looking to make a difference. The job responsibilities for houseparents are rigorous, but it’s a career worth every minute. If you are dedicated to influencing the future through today’s youth, we encourage you to explore the houseparenting role.
MHS’s application process for the houseparent position is comprehensive and lengthy. It provides the opportunity for both the school and its applicants to get to know one another. This eight-step process allows candidates and the school to explore if this career is the right fit for you and your family.
Review MHS’s Application Journey Map Here.
Daily Life as a Houseparent
Before School
Houseparents help students prepare for the school day. They provide a nutritious breakfast, make sure students are dressed and ready for their school day, lead a daily devotion, and ensure students arrive at school on time.
During the School Day
During school hours, houseparents have unscheduled time to take care of their personal needs. They can enjoy the amenities on campus by taking advantage of walking paths and a fitness center. The town of Hershey also has much to offer. See what living and working in Hershey would be like.
Evenings
After school, houseparents work hard to ensure students have a nutritious meal, do chores and homework, participate in extracurricular activities, and go to sleep at an appropriate time.
Weekends
Weekend schedules are less structured with the opportunity to enjoy recreational activities with your personal children and students. The Hershey area is filled with family-friendly activities to take part in. Houseparents are still responsible for dropping students off at their weekend extracurriculars, if any. As a non-denominational Christian school, Sunday Chapel Service is a requirement for all MHS students and on-duty houseparents.
To learn more about Milton Hershey School and the houseparent career, we invite you to browse their blog posts and watch their full library of videos on Youtube.
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