Mrs. Cency Fogel, with a smile, shares, “I honestly kind of fell into it!” when recalling what sparked her career in Wellness. Bringing a fresh perspective to Kent this fall, Mrs. Fogel joins the community as the new Wellness Director. This has been her fifth year in this field, she recalls, “I was teaching seventh grade at a day school in New York City when they wanted to start a wellness curriculum in the advisory blocks. I took it upon myself to research and create lessons, and just loved the positive impact it had on students.”
Five years later, this inadvertent decision has transformed into a passion and a calling rooted in her love of students. “Wellness is a little bit of everything, honestly, and it always feels impactful,” she says. “When students feel well, they’re able to be better students, teammates, friends, and family members. That’s the basis for all of my work: helping them thrive everywhere in life.”
Mrs. Fogel, who is from Massachusetts, attended Williston Northampton School, and previously taught at Blair Academy in New Jersey, with her husband, Mr. Fogel, who is in the English Department. At Williston, her own boarding school experience laid a foundation for understanding students’ diverse needs and understanding the transformative experiences. After several years at Blair, family was the key that inspired them to come to Kent. “We wanted to be closer to relatives once we had our kids,” she explains. “Kent is also right in the middle for us and, of course, the campus is beautiful!”
When talking about her wellness philosophy, she was more than excited to share, “It’s more about my reasoning; When students feel well, everything else follows. That’s why I focus not just on addressing issues after they appear, but trying to increase prevention.” This year, she is keen to evolve and continue what Kent’s wellness program has been doing: connecting the school’s alumni, collaborating with the Peer Support Program, and club initiatives (Kent Tunes, Active Minds, etc.). She said, “There’s so much new information all the time. It’s not like English class, where grammar is always grammar; Wellness keeps moving.” She is excited to share and connect all these new resources and bring a new perspective to our community. Also, she is teaching two sections of the Foundation classes for the 3rd formers.
With the rapid revolution in modern technology, students have been inevitably exposed to the digital world. She said, “Phone usage and screen time are the biggest challenges for students, not just at boarding school. It’s a time suck and it shapes how we see reality.” However, when talking about our school’s newly implemented Phone Policy, she was amazed by how our students have been adapting to it. She said, “I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how quickly students adapted to our phone policy. Most kids are even grateful to be told they can’t have their phones out during the day; it helps them focus and enjoy time together.”
“What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with the students?” Her answer was succinct and heartfelt: “Be open. Be open to trying new things and to change. That’s one of the best things about boarding school. My own time at Williston exposed me to things I’d never have chosen on my own. I’m so glad I did!”
Among her favorite memories of Kent so far, she was awed by the proactive, student-led culture, she mentioned, “Here, the students really take initiative, while the faculty supports. It’s a refreshing change, and I’m learning to adjust. Sometimes, it’s about letting students lead and supporting how I can.” She even set herself a goal to learn all the names of 520 students on campus.
For Mrs. Fogel, Kent isn’t just a place for her to work; it’s a place for her to call home. “Our whole family is so happy to be a part of this community. We can’t wait to watch it grow!”
