New Hampshire School Administrators Association

"Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom."

George Washington Carver

Announcements& Resources

2023 Champions for children nomination

New Hampshire School Administrators Association

2023 Champions for Children Awards

For distinguished public service to benefit children in New Hampshire

BACKGROUND ON THE NHSAA CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN AWARDS

The New Hampshire School Administrators Association (NHSAA), a non-profit corporation dedicated to

improving the quality of education for public school children, has established a CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN

award program to recognize New Hampshire citizens who have given distinguished public service to benefit

children. The NHSAA organization includes New Hampshire Superintendents of Schools, Assistant

Superintendents, School Business Officials, Special Education Directors, and other school system administrators.

CRITERIA FOR NOMINATION

1. Each nominee for the NHSAA CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN award must embody, through action, the

beliefs in the NHSAA CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN policy (listed below).

2. The nominee must live or work in New Hampshire

3. The nominee must be initially selected by NHSAA members in an SAU

4. NHSAA members or their families are not eligible for the award

5. School board members and school staff are eligible for this award for extraordinary service to children that

is above and beyond their normal responsibilities. Nominees who are Board members or employees are

more than excellent in their roles. Their nomination shall reflect unique and special service that, on a

voluntary basis, champions the cause for children. School Board members and school staff are not eligible

for this award as a result of their normal service.

NOMINATION FORM

You may nominate more than one person, but we ask that you use a separate form for each nominee. Please

summarize your nominee’s activities in one hundred (100) words or less on that form. Support materials (letters,

newspaper articles, your own thoughts, etc.) may be attached. Each nomination must be accompanied by three

letters of reference. Please note that we do not accept faxed nominations.

You may access the form by clicking the PDF button below

SELECTION PROCESS

1.BY FEBRUARY 24, 2023 each SAU’s NHSAA members may select a nominee. The nomination form and

attachments must be sent to the NHSAA Regional Chairperson. The SAU administrators will determine

how to honor the SAU CHAMPION. NHSAA will provide a certificate to each SAU champion.

2. BY MARCH 31, 2023 each Regional Chairperson will select the REGIONAL CHAMPION. We suggest

each chairperson appoint two other members of the region, from different SAUs, to work with him/her to

select the REGIONAL CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN. We suggest each region invite their CHAMPION to

a breakfast or luncheon.

3.BY APRIL 11, 2023 the Committee of Judges, having received the letters about the five regional champions,

will select the STATE CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN who will be honored by NHSAA at a state-wide

event scheduled for MAY 19, 2023. All regional winners will receive a plaque at that event.

2023 outstanding service award

Each year since 1994, The New Hampshire School Administrators Association has been pleased to recognize an outstanding New

Hampshire school system leader (who is not a superintendent of schools) with a special award at its annual meeting.

The NHSAA 2023 Outstanding Service Award Committee is charged with selecting an individual from the nominations of members.

The purpose of this memo is to invite you to nominate a candidate for consideration by our committee.

If you wish to nominate an administrator you believe exemplifies the criteria, please forward the form below along with a

nomination letter and two letters of endorsement by Friday, March 10, 2023.

NHSAA Outstanding Service Award

c/o Kathleen Murphy

SAU #08

39 Liberty Street

Concord, NH 03301

Email: kmurphy@sau8.org Phone: (603) 225-0811

To assist you in your nomination, please consider that the candidate will be evaluated using the following criteria: leadership for

learning, communication skills, professionalism, and community involvement.

Click the PDF button to access the nomination form:

2023 superintendent of the year

Dr. Carl M. Ladd, Executive Director

New Hampshire School Administrators Association

46 Donovan Street, Suite 3 Concord, NH 03301

Office Phone: (603) 225-3230 Office Fax: (603) 225-3225

Cell: (603) 374-3531 Email: carl@nhsaa.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MR. REUBEN DUNCAN NAMED 2023 NEW HAMPSHIRE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR

The New Hampshire School Administrators Association, in coordination with the American Association of School Administrators, has announced that Mr. Reuben Duncan is the New Hampshire Superintendent of the Year for 2023. Mr. Duncan, Superintendent of Schools for the Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District (SAU #47) will receive a special award during the AASA National Conference on Education in San Antonio, TX, in February 2023.

Reuben was selected for this honor by a panel of his peers and from a distinguished group of nominees. David Dustin, Jaffrey-Rindge Middle/Conant High School principal, said, “I think it's easiest to say that anyone who has had the honor of working with Reuben, whether a parent, community member, learner, parent, or staff member, walks away with a new connection and support, a powerful vision for learning, and relentless drive to meet the needs of every learner.”

Patricia Layfield, SAU #47 Student Services Director, remarked, “In the years that I have worked with Reuben, I have witnessed extraordinary vision, leadership, compassion and district growth due to his leadership skills…He is known by name across the district by not only staff but also by students…he subs in the buildings, he interacts with learners regularly, he knows them by name and knows about them.”

Reuben’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts from Cedarville University; a Master of Education from the University of New Hampshire, and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) from Plymouth State University. He is currently enrolled in the Doctoral Program at Southern New Hampshire University focusing on Educational Leadership. Reuben started his administrative career as the Assistant Principal at the Hillsboro-Deering Middle School, became Principal of the Marlborough School, and then Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Towns for SAU #29. Reuben became Superintendent of Schools in SAU #47 in 2015, where he remains today.

Reuben currently serves as a long-standing member of the New Hampshire School Administrators Association and has previously served as a member and officer of several nonprofit organizations, including the New Hampshire Dance Institute and Keene Housing Kids Collaborative.

Reuben attributes his success to his outstanding staff and administrative team. Reuben’s spouse, Sheryl, three children, Trevor, Christopher and Patrick, and his grandson Jaxston create his supportive family network. Reuben’s passion for innovation, creativity, and strong focus on children provides a mindset for continual growth, not only for himself but for his staff and students.

Dr. Carl Ladd, executive director of the New Hampshire School Administrators Association, stated, “Reuben is an outstanding representative of the many school superintendents in our state who work everyday in support of public education. He is an innovative leader, a strong and vigorous advocate for students and their families, and is a true Champion for Children.”