The current Education Commissioner’s time is up at the end of June. The search is on for someone to replace him. Preferably this time, someone with an education background. To that end, Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill has recently presented to Gov. Ayotte three excellent possibilities, all with extensive education and leadership background. A little information about each:
Steven Chamberlin, PhD.
Education: Springfield College; University of Mass.: Notre Dame College; University of NH.
Experience: Hollis Brookline High School, Teacher, Coach, Mathematics Co-Dept. Coordinator 1988-99
Hopkinton Middle & High School, Contoocook, Assist. Principal 199-2003
Hopkinton Middle & High School, Contoocook, Principal 2003-08
Superintendent of Schools, Hopkinton School District 2009-21
Assist. Superintendent, Interim Superintendent, Assist. Superintendent, SAU 39 2021-present
Kathleen Murphy
Education:Plymouth State College, Plymouth
Rivier College, Nashua, BS Education, MS Educational Administration
UNH, Durham, C.A.G.S. Administration
Experience: taught at Grinnell Elementary School in Derry
Principal: West Running Brook Middle School; Gilbert H. Hood Middle School; Grinnell Elementary School; Candia Moore School
Assist. Superintendent: Derry Cooperative School District
Instructional Supervisor: Nashua School District
Superintendent of Schools: Newmarket School District
Director Division of Instruction: 2008-11 NH Dept. of Education
NH Commissioner for Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission 2014 to Present
Superintendent of Schools: Hampton School District, 2011-20
Concord School District, 2020-present
Jennifer Chmiel Ed.D.
Education: Plymouth State University: Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), 2020
Plymouth State University: Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS), Educational Leadership 2011
Franklin Pierce College: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Concentration in Leadership 2003
Endicott College: Bachelor of Science, Psychology Concentration 1994
Experience: SUCCESS Program Team Leader, Special Education Case Manager, MVMS 2005-08
Special Education Facilitator, MVMS 2011-12
Mountain View Middle School; Goffstown Assist. Principal, 2008-14
Southside Middle School: Principal, 2014-18
Manchester School District: Assist. Superintendent, 2018-22
Manchester School District: Superintendent, 2022-Present
And there’s plenty more background information here, here and here.
Now for the call to action part. Send an email to GovernorAyotte@governor.nh.gov urging her to seriously consider the above educators suggested for the position. You can mention their long and extensive professional history in education; NH needs a commissioner with that kind of a background, especially a background in public education. However you want to word it. This is an issue that the governor will need to address soon, so the sooner she hears from voters, the better.
Thank you for taking a moment to again defend public education.