ConVal hired Peterborough resident Heather McKillop as the new principal of ConVal High School on Tuesday, concluding the hiring process a little over a month following the resignation of former principal Michelle Voto.
McKillop most recently served as Assistant Principal of Nashua North High School. She has also been an adjunct professor, an assistant director of student-athlete support services, an English teacher, and a lacrosse coach. She holds a MA in teaching, a MS in school health, and a BA in English.
“Heather’s Nashua colleagues have described her as a strong student advocate who is always fair and consistent. Her strength, empathy, and professionalism are respected and admired. Her ability to create a positive and energized culture is one of her greatest strengths,” a press release from ConVal read. The District was able to use focus group input from staff, students, parents, and the community from the principal search from two years ago to guide their criteria, and aggressively recruited through regional newspapers, and regional and national job boards, according to the press release. “Even though we were working within a limited timeframe, we were most fortunate to have a strong applicant pool, and subsequently were able to select a very talented administrator to be the next principal of ConVal Regional High School,” it said.
Beth Dunham-Gibney was hired to serve as principal of the Pierce School and Francestown Elementary School at Tuesday’s School Board meeting as well, replacing Katherine Morrocco, former principal of Pierce School in Bennington, and former Francestown Elementary School principal Katherine Foecking, who is now principal of Great Brook School in Antrim.
The interview committee for the high school principal position included: Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Rizzo Saunders, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Ann Forrest, Dean of Students Steve Bartsch, incoming and outgoing Directors of Human Resources Carrie James and Tim Markley, Director of ATC Jen Kiley, Director of Special Education Ben Moenter, high school teachers Greg Leonard and Tyler Mudrick, School Board members Janine Lesser and Jerry Wilson, high school student Fletcher Maggs, and high school parent Holly Wilson.