The ConVal School Board has named three new administrators for the 2025-2026 school year, including a new assistant superintendent.
“We had three nominations that we were very, very excited to announce and that we are very happy about, ” Superintendent Ann Forrest said at the board’s meeting Tuesday night.
Amy Stevenson, who is relocating from Connecticut, has been named assistant superintendent. Stevenson said she is impressed with what she has learned about ConVal.
“I have been researching your district for the past month or so. I have gone through the website and driven through your towns; you have a beautiful community here that I would love to be a part of,” Stevenson said. “I have been very intentional about which district to apply for. It is very clear to me that you have a deep passion and interest in your students, which I share, and that your priority is to promote positive experiences for students.”
Formerly, Stevenson served as assistant superintendent for human resources and student services at the public school district in Rocky Hill, Conn.
Deborah Riley of Hancock has been nominated to serve as the district’s new special education director. Previously, Riley served as special education administrator for ConVal High School. Amelia Joseph, who was previously special education coordinator for the middle schools, will step into Riley’s shoes at the high school.
On April 15, the board passed a motion to partner with the NH School Funding Fairness Project. The board has planned a public forum on Wednesday night, June 4 at 7 p.m. in the Lucy Hurlin theater at ConVal High school.
The NH School Fair Funding project supports grassroots advocacy for greater equity in public school funding and taxation. The presentation will include a public question-and-answer session. All ConVal residents are welcome. To register, go to fairfundingnh.org/events.
Cari Coates, ConVal director of student services, presented data on the recent expansion of the district’s First Friends preschool.
“In 2021, we had 57 students enrolled in the preschool program, and this year, we had 109 students enrolled,” Coates said. “We are reaching the population we want to reach, which is children with socioeconomoc disadvantages.”
Coates said recent assessments indicate that kindergarten readiness have improved significantly.
“We see real growth in social and emotional development and in readiness,” she said.
The First Friends program is an integrated program for children with and without special needs.