Hartford School District Newsletter

August 29, 2025

Dear Hartford School District Learning Community,

I get a lot of questions about what our educators do over the summer, with many wishing our educators well and hoping they get the rest needed to return to the challenging and rewarding work of educating the youth in this special community.

As you will see below, the truth is that they continue to gather and pursue the experiences and learning they use to teach their students, engaging in the lifelong learning and curiosity that is the bellwether of an excellent educator.

Please enjoy the collection of images and text that captures just a fraction of the adventure and professional development that our educators participated in to gain the knowledge and experiences they have captured, inspected, and will now release to our students, like the magnificent Monarchs they are!

This week has been thrilling and wonderful and has included rich opportunities for us to connect with our colleagues and welcome back our students, who we have dearly missed and could not be more excited to work with; in many respects, as lovely as it is to explore the world of learning and adventure over the Summer, it all truly comes together when we have the opportunity to see our students and receive that special reminder, which never gets old, of why we do what we do.

Welcome back, HSD!

Warmly,

Caty Sutton

Superintendent

Hartford School District

suttonc@hartfordschools.net

The "Redistricting Taskforce" is now at work in earnest to develop up to three maps to present to the legislature when they return to session in January.

One aspect of Act 73 (formerly H.454) mandates that a "Redistricting Taskforce," composed of state legislators and retired superintendents and business managers, begin work on developing a map to indicate options for consolidated districts that will serve between 4,000 and 8,000 students.

To learn more about the work of the taskforce, including when the meetings are and to review meeting minutes, please access the this link to the AOE page dedicated to this work and/or the "Vermont Edition" episode dedicated to this topic, or the other piece by VT Public linked below.

At a special meeting on July 30, Hartford Board of School Directors' meeting, Director of Facilities, Jonathan Garthwaite, shared the most up-to-date information regarding PCBs and abatement and remediation efforts in the district.

Also present were representatives from the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Health, who presented the most recent data and analysis from the air sampling that was most recently conducted at Hartford High School, as well as the health implications for exposure to PCBs.

Please see the links below for more information, including the page dedicated to updating you all on this situation on our website, the latest news, and a link to where you can find a recordings of our most recent board meetings where this topic has been discussed.

Please also do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions you may have. Our next board meeting is next Wednesday, 9/3, at 6:00 in the HACTC BEST room (please see the agenda below).

Hello Dothan Brook School Community,

My name is Patrick Peters, and I'm honored to join this incredible community as the Interim Principal of Dothan Brook School. I live in Bradford, Vermont, with my wife and two sons-one of whom is heading off to college this fall! Over the past 13 years, I've had the privilege of working in public education, and throughout my career, I've remained passionate about supporting students, families, and educators in creating meaningful, engaging learning experiences for all students.

I believe that every student has the potential to thrive when given the opportunity to connect with their learning in creative and relevant ways. That often requires thinking outside the box-and I'm excited to bring that mindset to Dothan Brook.

My journey to this role has been shaped by diverse experiences. I began my career in early childhood education at White Mountain Children's Center in Lebanon, NH, while completing my B.S. in Elementary Education. Next, I taught third grade at Waits River Valley School in Corinth, VT, and later specialized in math and science instruction at Bradford Elementary School. After a decade in the classroom, I transitioned into a leadership role as a Mathematical Instructional Coach in Barre, VT. Driven by a desire to expand my impact, I earned my Ed.D. in Educational Leadership in August 2024.

One of my greatest professional aspirations has been to serve as a school principal-and I'm thrilled to take on that role here at Dothan Brook. I look forward to partnering with students, educators, families, and the greater community to ensure every child feels supported, challenged, and empowered to reach their fullest potential. It truly takes a village, and I'm grateful to be a part of yours.

Warmly,

Patrick Peters
Interim Principal
Dothan Brook School

"If you know me, then you know that I love to learn. This summer, I learned how to make greeting cards using printed leaves and trees, how to start a business, and how to use my chainsaw safely. I spent a day learning the basics of chainsaw safety with 9 other women from around the state of Vermont with a group called 'Game of Logging.' It was very informative, and I gained a lot of confidence and understanding. I guess I felt called to wear my HEA t-shirt because I knew I needed to be strong in body, mind, and spirit that day."

"You Otter Know": August 29, 2025

"The highlight of my summer so far was taking my mom on a 5-day, off-trail backpacking trip in Denali National Park. As a classroom teacher, I spent my summers leading outdoor leadership courses in Alaska for teens, focused not just on wilderness travel and survival skills, but even more so on the intra- and interpersonal skills that allow us humans to thrive in unpredictable (yet beautiful!) environments. Sharing this adventure with my first & best teacher was an amazing experience, as well as a reminder of the power of "expeditionary learning" and the sense of wonder and connectedness it inspires.

On the professional side, I finally had a chance to read The Writing Revolution, which came highly recommended by colleagues at HMMS. The book gave a lot of practical, actionable ideas for how to empower learners to use writing not just to communicate, but to refine and develop their thinking. Writing is a huge part of the interdisciplinary project-based units we call "expeditions", so I'm excited to collaborate with teachers at OQS and across the district on leveraging these strategies to sharpen student work."

The Howler: August 26, 2025

"One thing our family did this season was a tip-to-tip bike ride in Prince Edward Island. What a magical place! The splendor of the coastal agrarian world was enhanced by our family's listening to Anne of Green Gables. We all loved it and for the first time in a super long time, I was able to enjoy the simple things like watching a bee go from flower to flower or listening to the grains waving in the field or marveling at the boys and Benji loping through a field of wild flowers at sunset. It was a hard landing coming back to Vermont for sure, but the mental process of slowing down and noticing and appreciating the world around us is maybe the best professional development I have ever done."

Over the summer and over the course of three days, Ms. Christian participated in The Writing Revolution workshop alongside two colleagues, Ms. Ledbetter and Ms. Rench.

"This professional development opportunity deepened our understanding of how to effectively sequence writing instruction and highlighted the importance of teaching writing skills explicitly. The interactive format also allowed us to collaborate in real time, sharing insights and strategies that will directly benefit our students and school community. This is a continuation of the work that some of WRS’s 1/2 teachers have slow participated in over the past few months and is something we hope strengthens the connection between elementary and middle school as many of the middle school teachers are also using TWR strategies in their instruction."

"Here is a photograph of me with my children Malcolm & Joseph (age 10) in Maine and another with my sisters in Delaware."

Weekly Review: August 28, 2025

Mr. TanCreti: "This summer, I was excited to be accepted into a doctoral program, which I’ll begin in September — a big step in my personal and professional journey. I enjoyed hiking, swimming, boating, and spending quality time with my children. I also continued to pursue my dream of becoming a professional golfer :) — still a work in progress! ⛳

At HMMS, I had the chance to spend a lot of time in the building with Ms. Marshia and Ms. Wagar, enjoying laughs and working hard to fine-tune our systems with the mindset of continuous improvement

I’m energized and excited for the year ahead!"

Ms. Marshia: "I am SO happy to be calling HMMS my new home. I have never transitioned into a community and felt so comfortable so quickly, and so immediately and deeply supported and inspired. This is a special place. This is my puppy summer, so I’ve been rising extra early with Maisie, our brand new golden retriever, and exploring the world through her endless curiosity and energy. I’ve been listening to books on my new commute, stealing long walks on shaded dirt roads, and purging lots of over-stuffed corners of my old house. I’m also headed back to school at UVEI, joining their Principal Internship Program, which feels like an awesome fit. I’m a fan of miniature games, and a goal for the summer was to teach Mr. TanCreti how to play Piglet Dice, which fits inside an Altoids can, and mini-Bananagrams (as in, you need tweezers to hold the letters). It’s all about joy!!!"

Educators at HMMS had to work together in a challenge to flip the mat over without stepping off!

Ms. Rice had "the best time watching all the videos from this conference. I have gained so many new ideas to implement in the fall!"

"This summer I participated in CZ-CREST through UVM. CZ-CREST stands for Critical Zone Champlain Research Experience for Middle and Secondary Teachers. In this course teacher participants explored biogeochemical research related to critical zone science and the Lake Champlain Basin through investigations alongside researchers. We also worked on developing relevant projects and place based curriculum to bring back to our schools. This photo is from a day spent on UVM's research vessel on Lake Champlain.

I also traveled to the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California, and spent two weeks hiking and camping along alpine meadows and lakes, it was beautiful!"

Please use this link to access the HMMS Athletics page.

August 22, 2025

"This summer I attended the Sphere Summit at the Cato Institute in Washington DC. The week-long session that I attended was "Cultivating Curiosity, Openness, and Civil Discourse in Every Classroom," and it was incredible.

Here is a part of their description of the event, as it is hard to put into words: 'Sphere Summit features presentations by leading policymakers, scholars, and academics, who discuss key public policy issues facing our nation today. Topics covered include free speech, the health of our democracy, criminal justice reform, the economy, and many others. Summit also features professional development workshops conducted by leaders in civic education on how to bring these ideas into your classroom.'

Beyond the summit, I met people from all over the country, almost every state was represented, and I got to journey to our capital for the first time! As all of my friends put it, every city I go to next will pale in comparison, and I am sure they are right."

Led by Melissa Wyman through her Rowland Fellowship, members of the High School Rowland Collaborative Work Group met for two days of professional development at the Quechee Inn at Marshland Farms at the end of July. We worked with a facilitator from CVU, Heather Morley, and worked to design high quality project-based units that centered our place. It was a wonderful and invigorating two days.

"I had a very busy summer, including fire performances; organizing the volunteer "Skeleton Crew" for Camp NECON, a conference of New England Horror Writers; and organizing White River Junction Pride."

"The Hartford Performing Arts Camp is a week long day camp at HHS for students entering grades 6-9, and counselors entering grades 10-12.

We put on a show called "Campfire Tales" in 1 week, with music provided by band, musical theater, a cappella, ukulele, boomwhackers, and drumming. The actors told spooky, scary, and silly campfire tales throughout. Interested campers are welcome to join us for HPAC next summer!"

"Becky and I got together at the scenic Union Village Dam Recreational Area to prepare for the upcoming Link Leader training days. We are so excited for the first year of Link Crew at HSD!"

This summer, HACTC's "Future Business Leaders of America" took 11 students and 2 teachers, Stacey Dunham (Cosmetology) & Janel Manning (Business), to the Nationals Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California. It was an amazing opportunity for numerous leadership workshops for students and for teachers. Students also completed nationally against other students in select business projects, testing and role plays.

During the week of June 23rd - 27th, the HACTC was buzzing with middle schooler energy during their first full week of summer vacation. The HACTC hosted two camps: the school’s annual summer tech camp plus a computer camp for girls and gender expansive students.

The HACTC Summer Tech Camp hosted 98 rising 7th, 8th and 9th grade students from a dozen middle schools around the greater Upper Valley. This half-day camp gave students a taste of a variety of activities at the HACTC. Campers completed two 1.5-hour activities per day for five days. This year’s activities included:

• Learning about, taking apart and assembling auto brakes in Automotive Technology,

• Creating silly stories with Python (basic computer programming) in Information Technology,

• Constructing mini-corn hole boards in Building Trades,

• Making fresh strawberry jam, plus learning about and eating chocolate in Culinary Arts,

• Creating a short audio scene using sound effects and music in Design, Illustration and Media Arts,

• Designing and felting wool soap bars in Natural Resources,

• Creating devices that demonstrate ways that energy is transferred from one object to another in STEM,

• Using many of the same skills and materials from autobody repair, campers created and designed their own desktop picture frame in Autobody, Motorsports and Customs,

• Participating in high-energy stations of games and challenges designed to build teamwork, communication, and camaraderie in Health Sciences, and

• Learning the basics of welding by creating a metal sign in the Industrial Mechanics and Welding.

During the first annual HACTC Computer Camp for girls and gender expansive youth, Information Technology & Software Engineering Instructor Jeremy Ouellette hosted 11 campers in the afternoons. Throughout the week, youth interacted with a variety of speakers related to the history of computing, IT support and leadership, and cybersecurity. Campers also had opportunities for hands-on computer related activities and field trips to Dartmouth College and Mascoma Bank.

Big news from the Hartford Area Career and Technology Center (HACTC)! Aron Tomlinson—who has worn many hats over the years, from culinary instructor to Director of Adult Education and Workforce Development—is passing the lightsaber to his successor, Jennifer Opalinski. We thought Aron had done it all, but now he’s stepping into an exciting new role as Assistant Superintendent of the Hartford School District. Congratulations, Aron!

Despite his new responsibilities, Aron took several weeks to ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition for the adult education program. We're thrilled to announce that Jennifer Opalinski has officially taken on the role of Director of Adult Education and Workforce Development at HACTC.

Jennifer brings a strong background in education and leadership. She spent twenty years teaching at Profile School in New Hampshire and most recently served as the Director of the Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center in Newport. To say Jennifer is enthusiastic about her new role would be an understatement—she’s passionate about adult education, connected to the Upper Valley, and ready to hit the ground running.

Jennifer can be reached at opalinskij@hartfordschools.net or via cell at 603-616-9264.

Please join us in welcoming Jennifer to the HACTC community and congratulating Aron on his well-deserved new position!

The autism program at TWS provides a supportive, structured environment where students thrive with individualized and hands-on learning. This summer, the program continued with engaging activities that promote social development and life skills. Students were not only maintaining their routines and responsibilities but also venturing out into the community to explore a variety of places, creating meaningful experiences that extend beyond the classroom.

Aron Tomlinson, our new Assistant Superintendent, is on the water every chance he gets! He competes in bass fishing tournaments throughout the summer when he is not in the office!

Sarah Hisman spent a week in Manchester, NH, for her doctoral residency at Southern New Hampshire University. This opportunity allowed her to further her learning and collaborate with peers while continuing her research on the impact of role-relations and induction supports on the psychological safety of new educators.

This summer, HSD Mentor Coordinators, Cindy Kussius and Jodi Tierney, trained 5 new full-time mentors and 2 mentor guides!

"My mornings were spent volunteering for the "Take Bite Out of Hunger" program through Hartford Community Coalition. Five days a week free breakfasts and lunches are packaged up and distributed throughout the Upper Valley.

This is a picture of school superintendent and administrators who donated their time from busy schedules so that others in the community have nutritious meals on a daily basis including meals for the weekend. This program is dear and near to my heart."

Hartford School District is committed to upholding our anti-racism and gender inclusivity policies so that every member of our community has a sense of belonging, feels valued, and is celebrated for who they are. We strengthened this commitment over the summer when all HSD administrators participated in a 2-day Restorative Practices training with Suffolk University. Our hope is that the tenets of Restorative Practices (relationships, responsibility, and repair) are embedded into all aspects of our school district.

We’ll continue to expand our work over the course of this year by focusing on Restorative Practices, Neurodiversity and Inclusion, Vision of a Graduate, and Vermont’s Education Quality Standards. Look for these topics in the Curiosity Corner section of the weekly newsletter from each school! These are quick reads, stories, and/or videos for learning together. Each month there will also be an Equity Newsletter highlighting the equity work happening throughout the school district.

A link is here for your convenience!

Hartford Athletics

Jeff Moreno, CAA

Athletic Director

morenoj@hartfordschools.net

If you would like to contact the school board, please access their page on our website.

To watch recordings of past meetings, including our last special meeting on July 30, please access this link.

We also created a new email address that will allow you to send one email that will go to all five board members (thank you again, to Eric Christie!):

To reach all members of the school board collectively, email schoolboard@hartfordschools.net

A big thank you to Eric Christie, HSD Director of Technology, for figuring out how individuals can subscribe to the HSD Newsletter!

To subscribe to be on our list of newsletter recipients, please access this link (the link is also on the front page of our website)!