Orange East Supervisory Union
Newsletter 07/01/2026
Message from the Superintendent
Happy Summer Everyone,
Today is July 1 and is the official start of the 2026-2027 school year. Congratulations to all our graduates and to every learner who is stepping up to the next grade. We wish you all a safe and healthy summer and we look forward to welcoming you back to school in August.
For those of you who have not yet heard, the OUUSD Budget passed on June 16, so all budgets in our SU are now set and approved. For more OESU Updates and legislative updates, please see the most recent Superintendents Report from June 18, 2026.
This newsletter includes many hiring updates, information about Summer Meals, and more. We encourage all families to participate in summer meals as it helps to support our school nutrition program all year long.
Happy summer,
Heather Lawler
Superintendent of Schools
Orange East Supervisory Union
Thetford Elementary School Principal Search Update
Caitlin Toleno has resigned her position as Thetford Elementary Principal effective June 30, 2026. We wish her well as she returns to Pennsylvania.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us in the Thetford Elementary School cafeteria on Tuesday evening for a Meet the Principal Candidates forum. It was wonderful to see so many families, staff, and students engaging with the finalists.
Our search has become a collaborative, community-driven effort. Following the forum, many of you took the time to fill out feedback forms, sharing your perspectives on how the candidates aligned with Thetford Elementary’s values and academic vision.
The TES Principal Selection Committee is meeting tomorrow, July 2, 2026 to review community input alongside the leadership priorities established for our school. As noted when this search began, our goal is finding the absolute best leadership fit for TES for the upcoming school year, whether through a traditional appointment or an interim. This collective community feedback will be included in our next steps. Thank you again for your ongoing support and commitment in the future of Thetford Elementary School.
Newbury Principal Search Update
Loretta Cruz has resigned as Principal of Newbury Elementary School effective June 30, 2026. We wish her well in her new position in Rivendell.
We are pleased to share that the search for the next Principal of Newbury Elementary School is moving forward. The search committee has spent the last week actively reviewing applications and conducting initial candidate interviews.
Our primary focus throughout this process is to secure a leader who can provide operational stability, protect our small school culture, and support the amazing Newbury faculty and staff for the upcoming school year. We remain entirely open to filling this vacancy through a traditional, long-term placement or as a one-year interim appointment.
We are currently working to schedule a Community Forum day. This upcoming event will feature public meet-and-greet opportunities, allowing Newbury families, staff, and community partners to interact directly with the candidates and provide feedback to the committee.
Keep an eye out for an announcement with specific times, locations, and details. Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to Newbury Elementary School.
Welcome OESU Director of Finance and Operations
We are pleased to welcome Tim Ross, as the new OESU Director of Finance and Operations effective July 1, 2026
Tim Ross brings more than 20 years of financial management and leadership experience, with expertise in budgeting, forecasting, strategic planning, and organizational process improvement. Throughout his career, he has led teams and initiatives focused on increasing operational efficiency, strengthening financial processes, and driving continuous improvement. Over the past five years, he has served as a member of both the Orange East Supervisory Union and Oxbow United Unified School District School Boards, building a deep appreciation for the work taking place in our schools each day. He looks forward to building on that experience and further supporting the success of the SU and its member schools.
Tim holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Saint Michael’s College and a Master of Science in Accounting from Northeastern University.
Tim lives in Newbury with his wife Emily and their two daughters. Outside of work, he can often be found cheering on his girls at their sporting events or spending quality time with family and friends.
Welcome OESU Director of Technology
The Orange East Supervisory Union is proud to welcome Jeff Jamele as its new Director of Technology, effective July 1, 2026.
Jeff’s love of technology started early — at the age of four, when his grandparents gave him a Commodore 64. He never looked back. That spark grew into a 26-year career in Information Technology, earning multiple Cloud and Cybersecurity certifications along the way.
A Vermonter through and through, Jeff was born and raised in Central Vermont and graduated from Williamstown High School in 1998. From there he headed to Washington, D.C., to work on the staff of Senator Patrick Leahy — the beginning of a career on Capitol Hill. He went on to work for several consulting firms in the D.C. area, supporting government contracts for agencies including the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Commerce. It was in Washington that Jeff met his wife, Ashley, and together they decided to return to Vermont to put down roots.
That homecoming led to his role as Director of Information Technology at Concepts NREC, a position he has held for the past 14 years. There, Jeff has led cybersecurity, infrastructure, and policy for the aerospace industry — a field defined by some of the most rigorous security requirements anywhere.
Now Jeff is bringing that experience home to his own community. In his new role with OESU, he is excited to work directly with technology that will make a difference for educators and growing minds alike. “I’m looking forward to supporting the people doing the most important work — our teachers and our students,” he shares.
Jeff lives in Thetford, one of OESU’s member communities, with his wife Ashley, who teaches middle school math at Waits River Valley School, and their three boys: Giuseppe (10), Bernie (7), and Auggie (4). He has coached all three of his sons in baseball in Thetford, as well as summer All-Stars. For the past three years he served on both the Thetford School Board and the Thetford Academy Board, acting as liaison between the two and presenting the budget to the community on Town Meeting Day.
Beyond his professional work, Jeff is in the process of founding a nonprofit dedicated to teaching and preserving legacy computing technology — keeping the tools that shaped his own path alive for future generations. It’s a fitting reflection of the curiosity that began with a Commodore 64 and continues to drive him today.
Welcome OESU Human Resources Manager
We are excited to welcome Megan Sullivan as the new OESU Human Resources Manager!
Hello everyone! I am excited to join the team at Orange East Supervisory Union. I recently relocated from Missouri to Vermont in early May 2026 and am looking forward to becoming part of this community.
I have more than 10 years of professional experience in Human Resources, employee benefits, leave administration, employee relations, training, and customer service. I earned my MBA in Human Resource Management and Business Administration from the University of Wyoming and hold a bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Throughout my career, I have worked in both the public and private sectors. Most recently, I served as a Home Buying Concierge with Veterans United Home Loans, supporting Veterans and their families through the homebuying process. Prior to that, I worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Rating Veterans Service Representative, where I interpreted complex regulations, analyzed claims, and assisted Veterans in accessing the benefits they earned through military service. I also completed the VA's Emerging Leaders Program in 2024.
A significant portion of my career was spent with WTW (formerly Towers Watson), where I progressed from Human Resources Generalist to Senior Absence Management Analyst. In those roles, I administered FMLA, disability, and leave programs; advised employees and managers on HR policies and procedures; developed and delivered training; coached team members; supported onboarding and recruitment efforts; and partnered with leadership to improve employee experiences and organizational processes.
I am passionate about helping people, building positive workplace cultures, and supporting organizational success through effective HR practices. Outside of work, I enjoy playing pickleball, hiking, and canoeing, and I am excited to explore Vermont's beautiful outdoor opportunities.
I look forward to getting to know all of you and contributing to the important work Orange East Supervisory Union does in support of students, staff, families, and our communities.
Upcoming Dates
- July 1, 2026 Blue Mountain Union Board Meeting 6:00 PM
- July 8, 2026 Oxbow Unified Union Board Meeting 5:30 PM
- July 14, 2026 Thetford Town Board Meeting 6:00 PM
- August 11, 2026 Thetford Town Board Meeting 6:00 PM
- August 12, 2026 Oxbow Unified Union Board Meeting 5:30 PM
- August 18, 2026 Orange East Supervisory Union Board Meeting 6:00 PM
- August 19, 2026 First day for NEW teachers & staff
- August 19, 2026 Blue Mountain Union Board Meeting 6:00 PM
- August 20, 2026 First day for ALL teachers & staff
- August 20, 2026 Waits River Valley Board Meeting 6:00 PM
- August 24, 2026 Open House Events, more information coming soon!
- August 26, 2026 First day for STUDENTS
Full Calendars are available on the OESU website at https://www.oesu.org/calendars.
Other Newsletters and Links to School News on Facebook
Orange East Supervisory Union (OESU) is located in the beautiful Upper Valley of the Connecticut River, The Central Office is located in Bradford, Vermont. The SU includes Blue Mountain Union School, Bradford Elementary School, Newbury Elementary School, Oxbow Middle High School, River Bend Career and Technical Center, Thetford Elementary School, and Waits River Valley School. The Supervisory Union proudly serves and connects the towns of Bradford, Newbury, Corinth, Groton, Ryegate, Thetford, Topsham, Wells River and local tuition towns. We all work together to support student learning and improve educational outcomes.
Orange East Supervisory Union
64 South Main Street
Bradford, Vermont
(802) 222-5216