The Center for Academic Success at Williston Northampton School has a new director, and she’s ready to hit the ground running. Anne Arent joined the Williston community at the start of July 2025, and brings to the school a wealth of experience in education and a love of helping students thrive and excel.

“Williston has a fantastic reputation, and I loved the community when I came to visit,” Arent said. “Community is really important to me—it’s partly why I choose to be at a boarding school, because I enjoy getting to know students inside and outside of the academic day.”

Now in its seventh year, Williston’s Center for Academic Success is a network of support that provides students at every level with the resources, instruction, and help they need to succeed. Housed in Clapp Library, CAS offers levels of support for every kind of learner, ranging from drop-in writing and math centers to a structured Academic Strategies Tutorial and supported evening study hall.

Arent arrives at Williston after most recently working at Stoneleigh-Burnham School as the Director of Learning Services, and a long background in learning support and college advising. She also recently earned a doctorate of education degree from the University of New England. Arent first discovered her love of teaching in college. “I found that I loved working with students, loved helping them find the tools they need to be successful,” she said. “It’s a little bit like a puzzle, trying to find what works. I always like to start my conversations with students by asking ‘what works well for you?’”

Collaboration is something Arent said is vital in getting her office to do its best work. “Communication is really, really important,” she said, “both with parents, students, and colleagues. I don’t ever want to work in a bubble in this role–there’s an interdependence in this role with everyone in the community.”