SWANZEY — The Monadnock Regional School District is pleased to announce staff members and the school board were recognized at the New Hampshire Excellence in Education Awards for their outstanding efforts to uphold education and meet student needs.
The New Hampshire Excellence in Education Awards annually honors educators for their dedication to excellence within all levels of schooling and leadership. Recipients were honored on Saturday, June 4, at the Doubletree Hotel in Manchester.
The New Hampshire School Administrators Association awarded Superintendent Lisa Witte its 2022 Superintendent of the Year Award. Witte was nominated by her peers as someone who goes above and beyond for students and the district. Last year’s honoree, Kearsarge Superintendent Winfried Feneberg, noted Witte’s impeccable representation of her district, her state, and her region when it comes to matters affecting schools and student learning.
Witte has served in her current role since 2015, and also serves on the Executive Board for NHSAA. Prior to joining the Monadnock Regional School District, Witte served as Assistant Principal for Biddeford High School and later Assistant Principal of Pembroke Academy. In 2010, Witte became the Director of Federal Projects for the Manchester School District and then moved on to become the Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for the Hillsboro-Deering School District.
“Lisa is a consummate advocate for students and excellence in learning. The actions she takes model pure courage and strength to forge forward with a vision for change and hope in New Hampshire schools that go far beyond just words,” said Ronna F. Cadarette, SAU #56 Superintendent of Schools.
The New Hampshire Association of School Principals selected Emerson Elementary Principal Lori Stevens as its 2022 Elementary Principal of the Year. Stevens was nominated by the visiting selection committee for her detailed care and support of students and faculty. Stevens is described by the committee as someone who has clear focus on students and staff, including on their overall happiness, wellness, and social-emotional health.
Stevens has worked at Emerson Elementary for16 years,starting as a second-grade teaching intern while completing her Masters in Curriculum Design and Institution. She then went on to teach grades one through six and credits teaching the a wide range of grade levels for her success as a principal. Stevens went on to receive her Master’s in educational leadership and become the Principal of Emerson in 2017.
“We are pleased to have Lori as a part of our staff,” said Superintendent Witte. “She brings an extraordinary amount of professionalism and kindness to Monadnock and embodies the same values of helping students and meeting their needs wherever possible.”
The New Hampshire School Board Association (NHSBA) selected the Monadnock Regional School Board as the 2022 School Board of Excellence. The board was recognized for its student personalized learning, improving the District Strategic Plan, and greater outreach and collaboration of education and community.
Additionally, the NHSBA was impressed by the Board’s revisions and improvements to the District Strategic Plan, which helped the district gather data to help improve administration, curriculum, and education as a whole.
“It is important to have a school board that wants what’s best for the district, educators, and students,” said Superintendent Witte. “Our goals of excellence shine through in every aspect of our district and we are lucky to have a school board that supports our faculty and students to the fullest extent.”
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