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A Life-Changing Education: The Impact of Milton Hershey School’s Home Life Program

Featuring Ododo Walsh ’98, MHS Senior Director of Home Life Services, and AJ Rinaldi, MHS Area Supervisor of Transitional Living

AJ Rinaldi Milton Hershey School Area Supervisor of Transitional Living

Ododo Walsh ’98 and AJ Rinaldi are passionate about transforming students’ lives. With nearly 25 combined years of experience at Milton Hershey School, their work in Home Life centers around fostering a sense of family.

As they both arrive at student home Fosterleigh—one of nearly 200 student homes across the MHS campus—it’s like watching a family reunion. They share a warm embrace and smile as they reminisce about the start of their careers at the school. They first crossed paths in 2014. AJ and his wife Shavanta were in their third year as houseparents, and Ododo was returning to her alma mater to start her career as a home life administrator in Elementary Division.

From their first meeting until now, AJ credits Ododo with helping him set his trajectory at MHS. In 2020, he followed in her footsteps and became a home life administrator. He is now an area supervisor working with high school seniors in the MHS Transitional Living program.

Reflecting on their years working closely together, AJ shares that it “was a great example of what a relationship with a home life administrator and houseparent should be—a group of professionals dedicated to the school’s mission who care about each other as people. They take pride in their performance and drive results for our students.”

As a 1998 MHS graduate, Ododo understands the key role houseparents play in students’ lives. These married couples nurture and support the students living in their student homes. She now serves as senior director of Home Life services, overseeing the school’s Home Life training program, social and emotional learning curriculum in student homes, and the Family Relations and Religious Programs teams.

Their shared experience working in every aspect of MHS Home Life is the reason for a reunion in the living room of student home Fosterleigh. Both are featured in our recent video special about the mission of MHS, titled “A Life-Changing Education.”

Video Poster

We asked them to share more about their work. The following are their answers, in their own words:

Ododo, what is Home Life?

MHS Home Life provides a nurturing, family-like environment for students. The model is unique because it focuses on creating a community atmosphere rather than traditional dormitory-style living arrangements. The homes resemble suburban neighborhoods, allowing students to live in a comfortable setting.

Within Home Life, students can practice essential life skills, such as conflict resolution and collaboration with peers from diverse backgrounds. This is also a space for engaging in meaningful traditions, including family dinners and celebrations of birthdays and holidays. Students learn foundational skills such as laundry, cooking, maintaining a clean living environment, and practicing good hygiene. Ultimately, Home Life at MHS offers more than just a place to live; it provides a supportive environment where students form meaningful relationships, practice life skills, and grow within a close-knit community.

AJ, what is the impact of an MHS houseparent?

The impact of an MHS houseparent is immeasurable and invaluable. The power and platform a houseparent holds to develop and inspire a young person to live a productive and fulfilled life can’t be overstated. It’s a generational impact.

As a former houseparent myself, some of my most memorable moments were the ones that most closely resembled family life, such as opening Christmas presents with the boys, student home family vacations to Great Wolf Lodge, and just throwing the football in the driveway each day after homework. My wife and I tried to create a home away from home by having small traditions the boys could remember, like Friday movie nights, their favorite birthday meals, singing songs, dancing, and being silly during kitchen cleanup.

Ododo, as an MHS graduate, what are your most memorable student home moments?

Times when my entire student home got to participate in activities as a family. From competing against other student homes in ping pong, building forts during snowstorms, and enjoying huge Saturday brunch on the weekends.  We laughed together and formed strong bonds in our student home. These experiences are now part of my family’s traditions. I love to cook huge meals for my family, and we all share my passion for competitive ping pong.

Ododo, how do we train and support our houseparents in this vital work?

Upon hire, houseparents participate in weeks of intensive orientation and training alongside other new couples. This training covers various aspects of their role through classroom instruction and experiential learning opportunities.

After completing the initial orientation, houseparents are paired with a lead houseparent who is a mentor and coach. Additionally, they benefit from the guidance of a divisional trainer who provides individual coaching and support. Home Life administrators or associate directors also serve as direct supervisors, offering essential support as they navigate their roles.

MHS offers ongoing professional development sessions on Wednesdays throughout the year. These sessions update all houseparents on best practices for working with students, such as trauma-informed care, mental health, and building resilience.

AJ, how does Transitional Living support our high school seniors?

Transitional Living is an opportunity to make strong connections with our students and help them apply all the lessons they have learned during their MHS journey. MHS intentionally and deliberately provides students with numerous learning opportunities. Transitional Living connects education to application. This supports our students as they launch into the real world, and they can be prepared because they practiced at MHS.

AJ, last question: What makes you most proud to work in MHS Home Life?

I’ve been a part of changing young lives my entire career, and I haven’t seen anything with the resources, infrastructure, scale, and longevity of MHS Home Life. This is my 13th year at the school, and I’m still fascinated by the opportunity we have each day and the tools we have to seize that opportunity.


Watch Ododo and AJ in the TV Special Below

Interested in learning more about Milton Hershey School?

Milton Hershey School does not discriminate in admissions or other programs and services on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religious creed or disability. Read important MHS policies on equal opportunity and diversity, equal employment opportunity, and more.