The world needs Proctor to lead the way in connecting individual learning, shared educational experiences, and an integrated approach to health and well-being as a formula for teaching a generation of young people how to be well in the world. Imagine every young person leaving Proctor with a clearer understanding of what brings them energy, how their brain learns and manages emotions, what helps them fully engage in their surroundings, and how they navigate adversity. Knowing that each of our students will be better able to navigate the complexities of adolescence feeling known, valued, challenged, and deeply supported because of our shared work motivates us as we all work together to pursue our mission.
Proctor's student health and well-being curriculum is overseen by our Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nancy Turkington and spans all areas of student life at Proctor. Health and well-being conversations are integrated into advisory and dorm conversations, teams and afternoon program meetings, as well as Proctor’s Freshman and Sophomore Seminar curriculums for all 9th and 10th graders.
Learn more about Proctor's new Health and Well-Being Center!
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Nancy Turkinton
Joining Proctor in 2025, Chief Medical Officer Nancy Turkington, MD, MS works with the dedicated healthcare team at Proctor to optimize the health and well-being of the Proctor community. She provides clinical leadership and oversight of the delivery of high quality, evidence based medical care for our students. In addition, she works with our community to develop educational initiatives and comprehensive well-being programming to further promote the physical and emotional health of our adolescents.
Dr. Turkington spends time with our students, parents, and professional community to understand how emotional and physical health affects our students’ educational and social experience on campus. Together with these groups she works to assess the existing strengths in our culture of health and begin to identify how we can better meet our students’ needs in this area. She will then lead us in the task of integrating well-being into our curriculum and community initiatives in ways that align with Proctor Academy’s mission, values, and strategic goals.
“In a time of challenging school funding around the country, Proctor’s leadership and parents are so excited and determined to improve the well-being of the student body and have provided an incredible opportunity to make positive change in the lives of these adolescents. The investment in this work will not only serve Proctor’s students and families, but we will have an opportunity to share our work with other populations of teens around the state and country, in hopes of helping turn the tides in how we are supporting, challenging, teaching, and guiding adolescents through life.” - Chief Medical Officer Nancy Turkington, MD. MS
Health and Well-Being Work
Health and Well-Being Curriculum
Proctor's student health and wellness curriculum is overseen by our Chief Medical Officer and Student Health and Well-Being Coordinator and spans both academic and residential life curriculums. Much of our health and wellness curriculum is integrated into advisory and dorm conversations, as well as the Freshman Seminar course all incoming ninth graders complete during their first year. Tenth graders take part in a Sophomore Seminar discussing the challenges surrounding substance, sex, and decision-making in high school. Proctor also hosts a Well-Being Speaker Series each year targeting specific topics most relevant to our student body, including conversations around substance, healthy relationships, equity and belonging, and personal well-being habits.
Health and Well-Being Areas of Focus
Fueling the Adolescent Brain and Body
Proctor students are always on the go. Awake by 7:45 am and off to class at 8:15 am, they engage with teachers in academic courses until 3:15 pm. And then their days start to get busy; afternoon athletics and activities, followed by dinner and extra help sessions prior to study hall at 7:30 pm. Study hall ends at 9:30 pm, and then there’s dorm life, roommate negotiations, and writing that college essay due yesterday. This type of schedule requires students to fuel their body with a healthy dose of sleep each night, a well balanced diet, and regular exercise.
Food Options
The members of Proctor’s Dining Services Team are proud to provide extensive choices that exceed the expectations of all diners: students, faculty, staff and visitors. As an independent food service provider, Proctor's Dining Services team has the creativity to employ their culinary skills as they create food stations that allow diners the freedom to create customized meals that include vegetarian entrees and side dishes, as well as locally grown produce and meats as a staple to each meal prepared. The team recognizes the importance nutrition plays in students feeling strong, confidence, engaged, and ready to learn.
Exercise
Equally important to healthy eating habits for adolescents is regular exercise. Whether it is a walk around campus, a run on the rail trail, a mountain bike ride in the Proctor Woodlands, or playing on an athletics team, taking time to focus on regular exercise leads to increased brain activity, focus, and energy. Each day, students take part in afternoon programming that gets their bodies moving.
Sleep
On average, adolescents operate on two hours less sleep than their bodies need. Despite a busy schedule at Proctor, we are committed to an 8:15 am start to the academic day and a 10:30 pm in room policy for all boarding students. We work to teach students the importance of sleep hygiene through Freshman and Sophomore Seminar classes and through intentional conversations in dormitories and with advisors. More resources on sleep hygiene and adolescents are available for students, parents, and faculty in their myProctor portal.
Student Health and Well-Being
