Building Community, One Form at a Time
September 1, 2026
St. Mark’s Form Deans are helping students build stronger connections, create shared experiences, and make the most of each stage of their St. Mark’s journey.
This year, St. Mark’s is placing an increased emphasis on the experiences and relationships students share within their Forms, creating more intentional opportunities for students to connect with classmates and faculty throughout their time at the School.
Helping lead that effort are St. Mark’s Form Deans: Monsie Muñoz (with substitute Carl Corazzini) for the III Form, Justine O’Connell for the IV Form, Maggie Caron for the V Form, and Shelley Brown for the VI Form.
Form Deans work alongside advisors and other faculty to support students holistically while helping each Form develop its own positive and inclusive culture. From welcoming III Formers into the community to preparing VI Formers for life beyond St. Mark’s, their work recognizes that each year of the St. Mark’s experience brings different opportunities for growth.
For III Form Dean Carl Corazzini, that begins with helping the School’s newest students find their place.
“The opportunity to meet all new III Formers as they transition into St. Mark’s is awesome,” he said. “We all get to help each other navigate a new space, create a class bond and culture.”
Throughout the year, Form Deans will organize activities and conversations during Community Time. Much of that time will bring students together by Form, providing space to strengthen relationships, explore aspects of student culture, and engage with the School’s mission.
For IV Form Dean Justine O’Connell, the opportunity to work with both new and returning members of the Class of 2029 is something to look forward to.
“I have a feeling it’s going to be a memorable year together,” O’Connell said, “and I feel lucky to be a part of IV Form.”
The structure also creates greater continuity across a student’s experience. Form Deans will collaborate to consider how students grow from their first days on campus through their final year.
“The arc of student growth spans a student’s entire St. Mark’s career,” V Form Dean Maggie Caron said. “Having a team of dedicated Form Deans who want to foster this growth over multiple years is exciting!”
That idea of knowing students well has particular significance for Caron. Recalling advice she received from her own Form Dean as a student, Caron remembers being encouraged to stop comparing herself to a classmate and instead recognize the qualities that made her who she was.
“Being seen and known so accurately, and being reminded to only be myself, inspired me to become an educator,” she said.
By VI Form, the focus shifts toward leadership and the transition beyond St. Mark’s.
“Each VI Form student is a leader on this campus,” VI Form Dean Shelley Brown said. “I’m excited to encourage them, challenge them, and support them as they prepare to step away from what they know into what’s beyond our school.”
Together, Form Deans and advisors will provide students with an expanded network of adults invested in their experience, while giving each Form more opportunities to develop its own identity, traditions, and sense of belonging.