The Wright Start PreSchool Participated in their annual Trick or Treat with the Central Office staff on Tuesday, October 29, 2024. They ended with a "not-so-spooky song" - check it out here. This is an annual highlight for the office and the preschoolers enjoy the fun activity! It's a great way to share their creativity and show off their singing skills. SST students from the Careers in Education program were also present to assist with this mini celebration! Thank you to all who attended!

The SAU16 Joint Board wishes to announce the retirement of Superintendent Esther Asbell, effective at the end of the current school year. After 14 years of dedicated service and leadership, Esther has decided to step down to embrace new personal milestones, including her recent engagement....the Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Christopher Andriski as the new Superintendent, effective July 1, 2025. The full press release can be found here.

Please find Dr. Andriski's full bio which can also be found in the 'About Us' section of the SAU 16 website.

Please click here to find the first Quarterly Update of the 2024-2025 School Year.

In this Exeter TV Segment, Dr. Esther Asbell, SAU 16 Superintendent gives an update on back to school. Click here to watch the full video report.

Exeter, NH – July 9, 2024 – Dr. Esther Asbell, Superintendent of Schools, is pleased to announce the appointment of Arlynn Polletta as the new Chief Equity Officer in SAU 16. With a distinguished career in equity and inclusion, Arlynn brings a wealth of experience to this pivotal role.

Arlynn Polletta has a broad background in non-profit organizations, K-12 schools, and higher education settings. Currently, she serves as the Director of Equity, Inclusion & Outreach at The Aloha Foundation, where she leads numerous initiatives, including developing long-term strategic goals, designing staff trainings, creating inclusive programming for youth, spearheading outreach efforts, and mentoring the Equity & Inclusion Fellowship Team.

In addition to her work at The Aloha Foundation, Arlynn co-founded the Liberation Learning Collective, which provides Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice educational consulting across New England. She also serves as a Master Instructor for Northern Lights at Community College of Vermont, leading the Exploring Anti-Bias Education series.

Arlynn's educational credentials include an Ed.S. in Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, an M.A. in Theatre Education & Applied Theatre from Emerson College, and a B.A. in English Literature & Theatre/Movement Studies from Manhattanville College. Her experience at UMass Amherst includes facilitating student-led initiatives for underrepresented students and supporting the Center for Racial Justice and Youth Engaged Research.

Previously, Arlynn worked as the Equity & Inclusion Coordinator at Pingree School, where she collaborated with faculty to develop inclusive curricula and training programs. Her earlier roles include Associate Program Director at Charles River Creative Arts Program, where she supervised staff and managed outreach programs.

Arlynn Polletta's work focuses on advocating for youth agency, creating inclusive programming, and building coalitions to address inequitable systems. She is dedicated to centering student voice and supporting communities in reimagining educational possibilities.

“We are excited to welcome Arlynn to our team,” said Dr. Asbell. “Her extensive experience and dedication to equity and inclusion will be invaluable as we continue to strive toward our Vision of a Graduate and foster a more inclusive and supportive educational environment for all students.”

The SAU 16 communications committee, in collaboration with Isobar Public Sector, conducted a comprehensive communications audit survey during the winter of 2024. The survey, detailed in the report's appendix, attracted a substantial response rate, with 1,122 stakeholders participating across six distinct categories: students, staff, community members with or without school connections, alumni, and parents/guardians. Please click here for the full report.

The SAU 16 Quarterly Report is formatted differently this quarter. Based on valuable feedback, Dr. Asbell and the Senior Leadership Team have prepared a high level overview of what is happening District Wide. Click here for the full report.

Click HERE to view