Partner Perspective - Superintendent Kelley, SAU 58

Michael J. Kelley
Superintendent

SAU 58, Northumberland - Stark - Stratford

I am the Superintendent of Schools for SAU #58 in Groveton, NH. The district consists of four small schools; Stark Village School, Stratford Public School, Groveton Elementary School, and Groveton High School. This is my third year in the role of superintendent; previous to that I was a principal for eight years, assistant principal for ten years, and high school social studies teacher for four years. After twenty years of public school administration, it feels like I have seen and done it all!!

I have been involved with the TRRE program since its inception in the North Country; first as a listener and now as an advisory board member and advocate. The TRRE program has several dimensions that are mutually beneficial for university students and our public schools. The students have the opportunity to immerse themselves into a year-long internship that enhances their overall experience. The schools and more specifically the placement teachers have the opportunity to collaborate with a fresh face and hopefully learn as much from the intern as they will teach the intern. My hopes are that the TRRE program will continue to grow over the next five years so that all cohorts are completely full and the partnership between the University and schools flourishes. The TRRE program is vital to our rural communities so that we can ensure quality candidates to fill our job vacancies. Currently, the applicant pool for all teaching positions in the North Country is extremely thin and the TRRE program could be a catalyst for quality educators choosing the North Country as their home.