The Common
Dear Nashoba Community,
I am pleased to announce that earlier this week we officially named Kerryann Coppinger as the new Principal of Center School, effective July 1, 2025. Ms. Coppinger was selected following an intensive and inclusive search process which included the involvement and input of our Center School students, staff, and parents/caregivers. This process focused on candidate experiences and expertise in educational leadership, commitment to student success, and ability to build and maintain a positive and inclusive school culture.
Ms. Coppinger currently serves as Assistant Principal at the Florence Sawyer School. She will continue in this role through the end of the current school year before transitioning to her new position this summer. Throughout Ms. Coppinger's time working at Florence Sawyer she has led teachers in professional learning communities as well as professional development workshops, cultivated a positive culture with high expectations, and has demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering meaningful relationships with students, staff and families. We look forward to seeing her continue to drive progress in alignment with the district’s strategic plan and vision at Center School.
I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize Lenore Zavalic and express our sincere gratitude for her dedication and hard work during her time at Center School. We wish her all the best.
Peace,
Kirk Downing (He/Him)
Superintendent
The Nashoba Regional School Committee would like your feedback on how you learn about work being done by the School Committee. This communication survey includes questions about how accessible the information is on the school committee's website, and what information is most important to you as we consider reorganizing information on the website to better serve you.
The survey should take about 5 minutes to complete. Please complete ONE survey per family, even for those families with multiple children in the district. Your responses are anonymous and email addresses will NOT be collected as a part of this survey. Your feedback is important to us as we approach the end of this academic year and we appreciate your time! Translation services are available by copying the survey link into Google Translate and selecting your preferred language. If you have trouble accessing the survey, please email Amy Cohen at acohen@nrsd.net.
Nashoba Regional School District Receives National Recognition for Music Education Support for the Second Time
Nashoba Regional School District has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the NAMM Foundation for their outstanding support and commitment to music education. Now in its 26th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement for providing music access and education to all students. This is Nashoba's second time earning the recognition. NRSD is one of 22 districts in the state of Massachusetts to be recognized for 2025, and one of 935 districts recognized across the country.
Two awards are given each year: Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) for school districts and the Support Music Merit Award (SMMA) for individual school sites. Both reach K-12 schools and districts throughout the U.S. and offer opportunities to increase awareness and support for music programs. Over 1,000 districts and individual school sites (public, private, charter, parochial) were recognized for having the highest commitment to producing exceptional music programs.
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Nashoba administrators and music educators answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for music programs and community music-making programs. Responses were verified by school officials and reviewed by the leading arts educational research firm, WolfBrown.
Be sure to check back next week as we feature the second annual Along the Great Road Music Festival! This event brings together ensembles from across the district at NRHS, where they have the chance to perform for judges who provide critiques, offer clinics, and award medals.
Math Curriculum Review Committee Selects Imagine Learning's Illustrative Mathematics; Moving on to Implementation
We are excited to share that we have completed Phase 2 of our 6th–8th Grade Math Curriculum Review Process. This phase involved several months of thoughtful work, including gathering in-depth feedback from teachers and students, and carefully comparing that information with our district’s instructional vision and priorities for middle school mathematics.
After a thorough review process, the Committee, comprised of the district’s 6–8 math teachers and special educators, unanimously recommended Imagine Learning Illustrative Mathematics as the curriculum that most closely aligns with our vision for learning and instructional priorities at Nashoba.
From here, we will move onto the next phase: implementation. To support a smooth and effective launch during the 2025–2026 school year, we have developed a detailed professional development plan for our educators. This work will include a full-day introductory training facilitated by the publisher, a full-day unit unpacking session tailored to each grade level, and ongoing professional development during early-release days, specifically for math and special educators. Families should be on the lookout for a Family University opportunity in the fall to learn about Illustrative Math and ways to best support their middle level math learner at home.
The Great Road Stays After School to Sit Down with Extended Learning
The Great Road host Jed Stefanowicz sat down with current and former NRSD Extended Learning leadership to find out more about what they mean by: "If you know, you know." This podcast features current Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator Michael Ellam and Lauren Brasili, previous coordinator, Bridget Hannigan, and ELP alumni, Natasha Dirsa. All four walk through the structure of the Extended Learning Program, the supports available to students, and what really makes a school adjacent space important for students and families. Listen here!
Nashoba Regional's Pre-Kindergarten Information
Nashoba Regional School District's Pre-Kindergarten enrollment is ongoing! There are still limited spots available in both the full day and half day program sections. Interested families can reach out directly to Director of Early Childhood, Kristen Ryan, at kryan@nrsd.net.
Have Questions About Special Education? The NRSD SEPAC Can Help!
What is NRSD SEPAC?
The NRSD Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is an all volunteer group with a mission to support students and their families by providing education and information on special education issues and services. Through their efforts, the organization aims to promote a better understanding of, respect for, and support of special education in the community. The Nashoba SEPAC works closely with the Nashoba Regional School District administration and School Committee to ensure that students' needs are being met in accordance with applicable laws.
SEPAC does this by:
Listening to families, our students and caregivers
Participating in the planning, development, and evaluation of the school district's special education programs
Advising the district on matters that pertain to the education and safety of students with disabilities
Providing family-to-family support and networking
Hosting presentations
Making recommendations for professional development
Why explore SEPAC?
SEPAC welcomes everyone. We strive to build a community of support for those on the special education journey.
Get connected
Get in touch on Facebook or by emailing: SEPACchairs@nrsd.net
Each town has parent liaisons whose contact information names can be found on the district website at: https://www.nrsd.net/page/sepac-special-education-parent-advisory-council
The night began with Superintendent Downing throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, setting the tone for a game that went beyond the scoreboard. This game was also our Mental Health Awareness Game, held in partnership with the KyleCares Foundation. Players wore green ribbons and Nashoba bracelets that read “Mental Health Matters. Nashoba Cares.” as a symbol of our commitment to supporting mental health awareness in our schools and beyond.
We are incredibly proud of how our student-athletes represented Nashoba, both on and off the field. Thank you to the families, sponsors, and community members who helped make this night such a meaningful and unforgettable experience.
