The Lamoille Ledger
Superintendent's Monthly News - November 25, 2025
Important Dates and Resources
November 24th - 28th - NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)
December 4th - Early Release (Parent Conferences)
December 5th - No School (Parent Conferences)
December 24th - January 2nd - Winter Break
Monthly Update
Dear Lamoille South Community,
As we head into Thanksgiving break, we take a moment to thank our wonderful families and community members for the constant support of our schools. From the sidelines to the stage, many adults dedicate their time and talents to ensure our students have a positive experience both inside and outside of the classroom. Most of these contributions are behind the scenes, at home, and in the community, and they are essential for a strong support system. Whether that is a volunteer in the library, someone helping with the lighting for a show, or a coach that puts in many, many hours, we see you and appreciate you.
This week, our educators are engaging in high-quality professional development. Teachers at Morristown Elementary are participating in the LETRS literacy training, SES teachers are working with the Boston Museum of Science to integrate more STEAM programming, PreK teachers are focused on strengthening family engagement, and middle/high teachers are reviewing the first few months of the move back to the 100-point grading system. I'm extremely proud of the professionalism and focus our educators bring to these trainings.
We are looking forward to the start of December, a time of year when students tend to see the most academic growth. As we move further and further away from the pandemic, our expectations continue to rise as the bar gets higher. Thanksgiving break is a great time to recharge and prepare for the hard work (and fun) ahead.
Please take a moment to read some of the important updates below and we wish your family a healthy and happy Thanksgiving.
Sincerely,
Ryan Heraty
Superintendent
Lamoille South Supervisory Union
802-888-4541
ryan.heraty@lamoillesouth.org
Weather Updates
Last year, we needed to cancel school four times due to weather, and we anticipate we may see a similar pattern this year. Please know that these decisions are not made lightly, and we recognize that every time we cancel school it puts a hardship on our families. When a weather event impacts school, there are several steps we take to ensure we make the right call. As the superintendent, I typically attend a 4:30 AM call with the National Weather Service. We then connect with our local road crews and transportation company to confirm the roads are safe for travel. We always aim to alert families before 6:00 AM.
Since conditions can sometimes change quickly, there may be times when the call is made after this due to new, critical information that impacts student and staff safety.
Goal Focus: Academic Excellence
This past month, we presented comprehensive data presentations to both districts. Every year, we work to share our academic performance with the community to ensure our stakeholders understand how our students are performing, our areas of strength, and the places we are focusing additional supports. The presentations provide a great deal of context and we know many cannot attend these meetings. However, we welcome any questions and hope these documents lead to conversations around our celebrations and focus areas moving forward.
Click below for the corresponding data.
Teachers of the Year
Two Lamoille South educators, Stephanie Zuccarello (Peoples Academy Middle Level) and Kate Crouse (Stowe High School), have received the prestigious 2025 University of Vermont (UVM) Outstanding Educator Award. They were honored at a ceremony on October 27, 2025.
Kate Crouse (left), an art teacher at Stowe High School, is a deeply valued and respected member of the faculty whose influence and impact reach far beyond the walls of the classroom. Her dedication, creativity, and leadership contribute meaningfully to both the academic and cultural life of the school community.
Stephanie Zuccarello (right), who teaches Science at Peoples Academy Middle Level, is distinguished by the passion, creativity, and dedication she brings to every aspect of her teaching practice. She exudes enthusiasm in the classroom, inspiring a curiosity and love for learning that extends well beyond traditional lessons. Stephanie consistently pushes her students to think critically, ask questions, and raise the bar of their own learning, ensuring every student feels seen, supported, and capable of achieving success.
Legislative Update - Vermont Redistricting Task Force
As discussed in my last update, Vermont's Redistricting Task force has grappled with the state's latest law, Act 73. The group has worked to ensure that any changes to our education system do not harm children and communities and should be commended for their courage. I was pleased to see that most members of the group relied on extensive data and research to determine that just drawing new maps for districts would not be a responsible or effective decision. The task force agreed that creating larger districts without careful and strategic planning could result in higher costs and a lower quality of education across the state. Due to that finding, they have put forth a plan that promotes the voluntary sharing of services. HERE is the presentation that explains the plan. The legislature will now review their recommendations and decide whether or not to propose new districts maps.
Recently, I published this op-ed to share some thoughts around this process and the challenges with redistricting as the solution to Vermont's affordability and teacher hiring crisis. Unfortunately, at times it feels that leaders are planning for failure instead of instilling hope and optimism. The bottom line is that we need more people and more housing in Vermont. Our state has so much to offer and many people around the country would love to call the Green Mountain state home. It is time for our leaders to promote steps that grow Vermont's population and capitalize on our strengths.
