By KATY SAVAGE
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BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. — A new superintendent and assistant superintendent have started work at Windham Northeast Supervisory Union.
Chris Pratt has taken the position of former Superintendent Chris Kibbe, who retired June 30 after nine years, while Lynn Carey has been named the assistant superintendent. July 1 was the first day at the office for both administrators.
Pratt was chosen from 24 resumes by a search committee that included principals, community members, board members and teachers. He was one of two candidates interviewed.
“Chris Pratt’s combination of experience and ability to express himself made him the most viable candidate,” said board member Ed Bank.
Pratt, 48, of Brattleboro, has been an educator for 25 years — about 15 of which have been in Windham County schools.
Pratt was previously the superintendent in nearby Windham Southwest Supervisory Union. Before that he was a principal at Brattleboro Union High School. The new superintendent was an art teacher and department head.
“Wearing those different hats makes you able to put yourself in others shoes,” Pratt said.
He wanted to work in the supervisory union to join a larger district closer to home, he said.
Pratt was appointed by the governor about three years ago to serve on the Hearing Panels for Professional Public Educators, which is responsible for licensing and disciplining educators.
He said he’s long been familiar with Windham Northeast.
“The community is very proud of their schools,” said Pratt. “We want to continue to bring that.”
Pratt was hired in the spring. He was part of the committee that chose Carey as his assistant.
Like Pratt, Carey, 61, of Swanzey, New Hampshire, has decades’ of experience in education.
Carey was the director of curriculum, instruction and assessment for the Monadnock Regional School District in Swanzey before she became a superintendent in Deerfield, Massachusetts for two years.
Carey lived in Massachusetts during the week and went home to New Hampshire on the weekends.
“My husband and I felt that I wanted to live home and have a better quality of life, and this job is just the perfect fit,” said Carey.
Carey’s commute to work is about 30 minutes now, half of the time it took to drive to Deerfield.
The Windham Northeast Supervisory Union board decided to re-establish the assistant superintendent position this year after it had long been vacant.
“The sheer workload that’s involved, we believed, is more than one person could effectively deal with,” said supervisory union board chair David Clark.
Carey was selected from 13 candidates.
“We found that great match with Lynn Carey,” said Pratt.
Carey was a paraprofessional, guidance counselor, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and director of curriculum before she became a superintendent.
“I really wanted to be assistant superintendent as opposed to being superintendent,” she said. “I want to work as a team. I want to work in a supportive environment.
Both Carey and Pratt said they were focused on soliciting community feedback and bettering the supervisory union for the students.
“My one goal is the success of children — student achievement, improving lives,” said Carey. “I feel like in this position I really can have more hands-on to make a difference.”
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