Superintendent Kimberly Rizzo Saunders is pleased to announce that the ConVal School District has welcomed four new principals to lead the District’s elementary schools.
The new principals will start their roles on July 1.
Two of the principals are individuals who have worked in other roles within the district prior to taking on these new responsibilities. The new appointments reflect a transition to a new model for ConVal, which is evolving away from utilizing shared principals between multiple schools.
“Each of these individuals bring new, diverse perspectives to their roles. I am excited to see how they lead our elementary schools, and I am confident that they will contribute to our school communities in impactful ways,” said Superintendent Rizzo Saunders. “This new approach will make each of our schools stronger through dedicated, hands-on leadership.”
Jessica Vezina
Jessica Vezina has been named as the new Principal Coach at Hancock Elementary School.
Vezina brings deep experience in education to her role at ConVal. Prior to joining the District, Vezina served as the Principal of Murdock Middle School in Winchendon since 2017. She has also worked as an Adjunct Faculty Member at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts for 15 years. In addition, she served as the Assistant Principal and Special Education Resource Room Teacher for Murdock Middle School from 2014-2017, and as the Leominster, Massachusetts, Public Schools’ District Literacy Coordinator from 2011-2012.
Her previous experience has made her an expert in operational administration, community engagement, student and parent relations, instructional leadership, and faculty training and development, all of which she will bring to the District.
She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Special Education from Fitchburg State University, as well as a certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard Business School.
Nicole Pease
Nicole Pease will return to an administrative role at Dublin Consolidated School after a year-long hiatus.
Pease has worked within the ConVal School District since 1999, beginning as a Grades 6 and 7 math, science, and literacy teacher at South Meadow School. From 2015-2022, she served as the principal of Dublin Consolidated School and Hancock Elementary School, where she co-taught Grades 2-4 with a specialization in math, collaborated with teachers to assess effectiveness of instructional programming, and focused upon social and emotional learning through responsive classroom approaches. This past school year, Pease returned to SMS to teach Grade 6 mathematics.
As part of her return to DCS as the Principal Teacher, Pease intends to continue developing strong connections with students while delivering engaging lessons that increase student growth academically, socially, and emotionally.
Pease holds an Elementary Teacher Certification from Keene State College and a master’s degree in Education from the University of New England.
Alisha Hansen-Proulx
Alisha Hansen-Proulx will be joining ConVal as the Principal Teacher at Pierce School.
Hansen-Proulx brings her previous leadership experience to her new role within the District. She served as the Principal Director of Summer School in Manchester from 2015-2017. Prior to her arrival at ConVal, she served as the Assistant Principal of Mastricola Elementary School in Merrimack for six years.
She also brings her deep experience working as an educator. Hansen-Proulx worked as an educator at Sanborn Regional Middle School in Newton from 2005-2007, as an Adjunct Instructor in English at the University of New Hampshire from 2010-2011, and as an educator and English Chair at Middle School at Parkside in Manchester for 10 years.
Hansen-Proulx holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in Education, Elementary and Secondary Education from the University of New Hampshire, as well as a Master of Education in Leadership and Administration from Southern New Hampshire University.
Rachel Lunan-Hill
Rachel Lunan-Hill has been named the new Principal Teacher at Francestown Elementary School after having worked as a Grades 3 and 4 teacher at Antrim Elementary School for the past eight years.
In her new role, Lunan-Hill will utilize her expertise in facilitating and planning meetings, developing and organizing professional development for teachers and staff, creatively solving problems, and fostering a safe and respectful learning environment for all students.
Lunan-Hill started her career in education as a student teacher at Jaffrey Memorial Elementary School, in Jaffrey, in 2004. Since then, she has worked as a teacher in several schools including Antrim Elementary, Greenfield Elementary, and as a substitute teacher within the Mascenic School District.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire and a master’s degree from Antioch New England Graduate School. She also holds a Principal Certification and an Educational Leadership Certification from Keene State College.
