Request for Leadership Change and Cultural Improvement at Kimbrough Hall Girls’ Dormitory

To: Pine Forge School Administration Team
 From: Concerned Parents of Students Residing at Kimbrough Hall

Subject: Formal Petition for a Positive Cultural Shift at Kimbrough Hall

Dear Administration Team,

We are writing collectively as concerned parents to formally express our continued concerns regarding the culture, leadership, and overall residential experience within Kimbrough Hall Girls’ Dormitory. We appreciate the opportunity to have participated in the recent town hall meeting and we appreciate the new initiatives that Dean Young shared during the meeting. We recognize the willingness to hear our concerns and appreciate the opportunity for open dialogue. 

We do believe there is a disconnect between the positive picture painted by leadership in the dorm against the experiences being shared by a significant number of parents and students and this speaks volumes. As parents, we want to emphasize that the concerns raised during the town hall meeting are not new. Parents have communicated many of these same concerns in previous meetings dating back to the appointment of the current Dean. Despite these conversations, we remain concerned that the changes necessary to establish a healthier, more welcoming, and supportive dormitory environment have not been sufficiently realized.

At this point, we believe that incremental adjustments are no longer enough. We are asking for a significant and meaningful shift in the leadership and culture of Kimbrough Hall. Our daughters deserve to live in an environment where they feel welcomed, respected, heard, and supported. A girls’ dormitory should provide more than structure and discipline; it should foster a sense of belonging, emotional safety, personal responsibility, and community.

We respectfully request the administration’s attention and action in the following areas:

1. A Change in Dormitory Culture

We are formally requesting a review and change in staffing structure at Kimbrough Hall. We believe a change in structure is necessary to establish a fresh direction and create the warm, inviting, and student-centered culture that parents expect and students deserve.

The leadership of a residential community should reflect approachability, fairness, empathy, consistency, and respect. Students should feel comfortable approaching their Deans with concerns, asking questions, seeking clarification, and discussing situations without fear of being dismissed or negatively judged.

2. Respectful and Objective Communication

We are requesting that dormitory leadership demonstrate greater objectivity, approachability, and respectful communication when addressing students.

There are concerns about subjective assessments being applied in situations where clear, objective standards should guide decisions. We are also concerned that students’ attempts to seek clarification, explain their perspectives, or present evidence are sometimes dismissed rather than given thoughtful consideration.

Students should be afforded the opportunity to be heard. Their questions and perspectives should be approached with fairness and professionalism, even when their understanding of a situation differs from that of the Dean or staff member.

3. Appropriate and Dignified Disciplinary Practices

We recognize that structure, accountability, and appropriate consequences are essential components of residential life. However, discipline should serve a corrective and educational purpose, not leave students feeling degraded, embarrassed, or demoralized.

In particular, we are requesting that the practice of requiring girls to clean out sanitary napkin disposal bins not be used as a disciplinary consequence or presented as an optional consequence. Requiring students to clean sanitary napkin disposal bins is not just a matter of dignity or inappropriate discipline. It also presents potential biological health and safety hazards due to exposure to blood and other bodily fluids. We are requesting with clear expectations be communicated to parents regarding who is responsible for handling this type of waste. Overall, we believe that consequences should be age-appropriate, proportionate, consistently applied, and designed to encourage personal growth and accountability without compromising a student’s dignity.

4. Empathy Training and Professional Development for Deans and Dormitory Staff

We strongly recommend mandatory empathy and communication training for Deans and residential staff. Training should emphasize:

● Respectful and effective communication with adolescent girls.

● Emotional intelligence and empathy in student interactions.

● Conflict resolution and de-escalation.

● Objective and consistent application of rules and disciplinary policies.

● Active listening and the importance of allowing students to express their perspectives.

● Understanding the emotional and developmental needs of students living away from home.

The role of a Dean extends beyond enforcing rules. Deans are also mentors, role models, and significant contributors to the emotional and social development of the young women entrusted to their care.

5. Accountability and a Defined Timeline for Change

We are requesting that the administration establish clear expectations and measurable steps toward improving the culture at Kimbrough Hall. 

We are requesting 1st tier response regarding positive communication measures, sanitation, and inappropriate disciplinary practices by December 2026

We are requesting 2nd tier response changes in regards to change in culture to include empathy training to be reassessed by February 2026

We believe this timeline provides an appropriate opportunity for the administration to assess the current residential environment, address leadership concerns, implement necessary staffing changes, and establish expectations for a more supportive and respectful dormitory culture.

Our Collective Request

Our intention is not to undermine the importance of structure, discipline, or the responsibilities of dormitory leadership. Rather, we are advocating for an environment where accountability and compassion coexist, where rules are applied fairly, and where students are treated with dignity.

We want our daughters to look forward to returning to their dormitory. We want them to feel that Kimbrough Hall is a place where they belong, where their voices matter, and where the adults responsible for their care demonstrate the empathy, maturity, and leadership expected of their positions.  

Assessment of meaningful improvement of 

Student and parent survey of the dormitory experience 

Anonymous Survey : November 2026 (Baseline Survey)

Anonymous Survey: February 2026 ( Progress Survey)

Suggested student survey

We would ask the school to have someone outside the Kimbrough Hall leadership structure administer the survey, such as an independent administrator or designated school representative. 

We request a formal follow-up meeting with parent representatives and school administration before the end of the second quarter to review the implementation and progress of the 1st tier response regarding positive communication measures, sanitation, and inappropriate disciplinary practices and plans on when the 2nd tier response regarding change in culture to include empathy training. 

If these steps have not been satisfactorily implemented or the expected improvements have not been achieved, we request that the administration move forward with the requested change in leadership and staffing at Kimbrough Hall.

Thank you for your time, consideration, and commitment to the well-being and development of our daughters. We look forward to a constructive response and, more importantly, meaningful action.

Respectfully,

The Concerned Parents of Kimbrough Hall