COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
My commitment to fostering positive school-community connections has remained steadfast throughout my experiences as a classroom teacher, a public and independent school administrator, mentor program director, and as a longtime leader and member of a women's service organization.
As an accomplished communications professional as well as an educator, I understand the importance of timely and accurate messaging, and the value of intentional and positive public relations. I also just enjoy people.
Highlights of Community Engagement
Averaged more than 700 individual, personal parent contacts per year over five years as a HS assistant principal, (2018-2023). Coordinated monthly meetings of local and state youth services providers and law enforcement in support of diversion and restorative juvenile justice programs, and established successful MTSS-B intervention structures as part of a District-Community team.
Designer of effective multimedia communications to promote effective information sharing and engagement between school and stakeholders, including a wide variety of printed materials, websites, video and social media messaging, and with e-mail marketing tools.
Coordinator for numerous community-school partnership events including artist residences, flea markets and fun days, homecoming parades, alumni and parent/guardian gatherings, recognition events, performances, and Cabin Fever mini courses.
Coordinator of an annual community volunteer reception to honor individuals who mentored students, visited as guest educators, served as school board members, assisted with drama sets and costumes, chaperoned trips and dances, supported athletic teams, and the like. This event included student demonstrations, exhibits, and performances and involved the entire faculty and a large number of students.
Leader of high school retreats in partnership with the Upper Valley Haven and Hulbert Outdoor Center, where students from three Upper Valley schools converged for learning and service focused on sense of place, social activism, leadership, and collaboration.
Junior Achievement - Implemented the high school Junior Achievement Titan challenge program in partnership with a team of community business mentors.
Local history tour leader for fourth- and fifth-grade students from Newbury Elementary School who (when possible) make an annual visit to the Oxbow Chapter House, an 1851 one-room schoolhouse on the National Register of Historic Places, which contains many artifacts of local history collected by the local chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
Throughout my teaching career, guest speakers and volunteers made regular appearances in my classroom. From photographers, fine and graphic artists, current and retired business owners, to community elders and parents, I strove to connect students and their learning to living resources knowledge housed within their larger communities.
Strategic planning facilitator for stakeholder groups to examine data, envision future scenarios, and co-create mission, vision, and action steps toward a multi-year strategic plan. Accomplished facilitator with 8 years of training and experience with National School Reform Faculty protocols.
Committee chair and sponsor of the DAR Good Citizen Award at four Upper Valley high schools, in support of which my chapter conducts an annual highway rest stop "Coffee Break for Safety" fundraiser. Award and scholarship presentations at senior awards events in the spring.
