About the job
Milton Hershey School in Hershey, PA, offers free, career-focused education for disadvantaged students. They seek married couples for full-time houseparent roles, providing supervision, mentorship, and a nurturing environment for 8-13 students in their homes.
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Description: Located in Hershey, PA, Milton Hershey School (MHS) is a top-notch home and school where over 2,200 pre-K through 12th grade students from disadvantaged backgrounds are provided an extraordinary, cost-free, career-focused education. This is made possible by the generosity of Milton and Catherine Hershey, who established the school in 1909 and ensured it was fully endowed. Thanks to their foresight and generosity, the school has over 12,000 graduates and continues to expand to serve more students. MHS is hiring married couples to serve as Full-time Flex Houseparents. In this unique and life-changing career, couples reside in on-campus student homes and provide care, guidance, supervision, and support for a group of approximately 8–13 students living in the home. Flex Houseparents play a vital role in creating a structured, family-like environment that fosters students’ academic, emotional, and social development so they can reach their full potential.
Responsibilities include:
Providing daily supervision and mentorship
Managing household routines and student schedules
Administering medications and ensuring student wellness
Driving students to activities, as well as planning and actively engaging in developmental and recreational activities with students
Leading daily devotions and accompanying students to Sunday Chapel
Overseeing budgeting and household reporting
Upon hire, Flex Houseparents initially support various student homes and follow a working schedule of nine consecutive days on duty, followed by three days off.
On weekdays, houseparents have unscheduled time while students are in school. Flex Houseparents eventually transition into a Placed Houseparent role, where they live and work with the same group of students in their own student home. Benefits include:
Salary: $46,917.00 per person (approximately $180,000 total compensation per couple, including free housing, meals while on duty, utilities, and more)
Comprehensive benefits: medical, dental, and vision insurance; health savings and flexible spending accounts; life insurance; disability options; retirement savings
Relocation assistance and paid training provided
Paid time off provided at designated times throughout the year
Qualifications: Qualifications include:
Experience working or volunteering with youth
This is a two-person role for couples legally married for at least two years
Both spouses must be age 27 or older
No more than three dependent children may reside in the student home
Commitment to a smoke-free and weapon-free campus; no alcohol permitted while on duty
Pet limitations: only fish and one dog of approved breeds allowed
Valid U.S. driver’s license and ability to become certified to drive student home vans
Comfort leading students in daily devotions and accompanying them to Judeo-Christian Sunday Chapel services (proselytizing prohibited)
High school diploma or GED required
Ability to lift to 50 lbs.
Demonstrated integrity and professionalism; MHS staff serve as role models for students
This is a unique, challenging, and rewarding career and life choice that requires a high level of commitment to student success from both spouses. For consideration, both spouses must complete individual employment applications. To learn more and apply, visit
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