The Mason School District will see some shifting in its existing staff as Principal and Special Education Director Kristen Kivela takes on a combined principal and superintendent role.

Kivela, of New Ipswich first started teaching in the Mason Elementary School straight out of college, spending eight years in the school. For the next five, she worked in schools in Wilton and Hillsborough, before returning to Mason as the principal and special education director for the past year. During that time, she was groomed to take up the spot of retiring district superintendent James McCormick, a position she took officially on July 1. Kivela will also continue her duties as principal at the school.

“I wouldn’t want to be in this role anywhere else,” said Kivela. “I’m still here with the kids every single day. I get to be here with the kids and the families, and not in an SAU building away from it all, and that’s a dream come true.”

Kivela says she feels confident stepping into the role, as the school is fully staffed this year with veteran teachers. Though the school is starting some new initiatives this year – including a school band and student-led conferences – but she said her main focus is going to be continuing the current positive culture of the school.

“It’s just great to be back in mason and have that sense of community and to keep fostering that,” she said. “The individuality that we can meet here in teaching the kids is unbelievable.”

Because Kivela will no longer have the time to continue as special education director, the school’s current school psychologist Jonas Taub, of Antrim, will be taking up that role. 

Taub has been working as a psychologist in schools since 1976, including working in the ConVal School District for 10 years, and in the Milford Elementary School, among others, and has been with Mason Elementary School for two years.

“I identify as a school psychologist and have been involved in education in one way or another for all of my career,” said Taub. “I’m very committed to education of all children, and assuring they have equal and fair opportunity, despite whatever conditions they might have that might hinder their education.”

Taub said he has experience as a special education consultant for the Department of Education, where he worked with schools on their implementation of policy and proceedure, and that working with special education students has overlapped with his school psychologist duties in the past.

But he is ready to take on a new piece in the administrative role, ensuring that the relevant programs are in place and in compliance with the federal and state laws and providing a high-quality education.

“This opportunity has come up in a school district that I love and love to spend time with,” said Taub. “It feels like a very managable and personable school district. The kind of caring and interactions that go on in a small school environment is really quite special.”

The only new addition to the Mason Elementary School Staff this year is paraprofessional Tracy Williams, of Mason, who will assist three hours a day during recess and lunch, and a free-floating assistant to classrooms as needed. 

Williams has lived in Mason since 2002, and previously worked in the IT field, but most recently has been a stay-at-home mother to her two children, both of whom now attend Mason Elementary School.

“I got to know a lot of the moms and students there,” she said. “I love knowing all of the teachers and being able to walk into the school and have a good report with them.”

Through her own children, Williams said she has become very interested in the education field and is excited to start her position on the first day of school.

“I’ve become more and more passionate as I’ve explred and got to know my own kids and how they learn. I’m very interested in how to help them socially and help them feel good about themselves.”

The first day of school for Mason Elementary School is Sept. 1.