NEW LONDON — Superintendent Winfried Feneberg is pleased to announce that Kearsarge Regional Middle School Assistant Principal Andrea Castaldo was named New Hampshire’s Assistant Principal of the Year by the New Hampshire Association of School Principals.
Castaldo has worked at KRMS since 2018, and previously worked as a language arts teacher at Franklin High School.
Earning the recognition means that Castaldo will be invited to attend the National Association of Secondary School Principal’s Conference (NASSP), held in July, where she will be able to engage with other secondary school leaders from across the country, gain recognition before a national audience, and have access to premier professional offerings. She will also be recognized at the NH EDies Awards ceremony at the NHASP’s Annual Leadership Academy in June.
Castaldo was selected for the recognition after members of a selection committee visited the school to meet with parents, community members, faculty and staff.
A letter from Bridey Bellemare, executive director of the NHASP, states that Castaldo was widely commended for her exceptional communication and listening skills, her partnerships with families, and her objective, supportive, and empathetic approach to engaging with students and families.
Fellow educators described Castaldo as fearless when it comes to having difficult conversations, but said she approaches such conversations with compassion and kindness. They said she “walks the walk” when it comes to partnership and collaboration, particularly when it comes to designing and implementing school-wide initiatives.
One veteran staff member attested to Andrea’s unwavering commitment to the staff in her school, stating that, “she motivates, educates, and inspires us to be better. She values her relationships with her staff making them feel valued and respected, which really sets her apart.”
According to the letter from Bellemare, Castaldo was also lauded by students for being accessible, kind, and upbeat.
“Ms. Castaldo makes learning fun. She creates a fun learning environment and I feel safe coming to school,” said one student. “I know she will be there for me when I need help solving a problem.”
“I view Andrea as more of a co-principal than an assistant. She is highly regarded and extremely competent when it comes to instruction and assessment and in understanding the most current pedagogy,” said Principal Stephen Paterson. “Her leadership and oversight of major initiatives, such as MTSS-B and Competency-Based grading have directly impacted our school culture.”
Superintendent Winfried Feneberg shared that, “Andrea’s optimism shines through, making her not only a competent administrator, but a highly respected leader in the district. She possesses the ability and capacity to go far in this profession…and when she’s ready for more opportunities, they will be waiting for her.”