SAU#6 Administrative Office Staff

165 Broad Street, Claremont, NH 03743

603-543-4200

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Chris Pratt, Interim Superintendent

Chris has a master’s degree in Special Education and is certified in Educational Leadership and Management. For the past 30 years Chris has worked in a number of roles within the education system. Most notable was his time spent at Stevens High School as Assistant Principal and Principal for the past two years. His role as Superintendent consists of overseeing the overall administration of the school district. He works closely with the Claremont, Unity, & SAU6 school boards as well as educators and community stakeholders. He manages educational programs, budgeting, personnel, and ensures compliance with regulations. Chris’s outside interests include spending time with family, sports, fishing, and playing the bag pipes.

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Chelsea Weatherford, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent

Chelsea provides comprehensive administrative support to the superintendent. She manages schedules, coordinates meetings, prepares documents, handles communication, and assists with special projects. Chelsea’s role contributes to the smooth functioning of the Superintendent’s office as well as efficient execution of administrative tasks. She also maintains and coordinates all education certification materials with the Human Resource Department. Chelsea’s outside interests include spending time with her family, camping, and gardening.

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Catlin "Cat" McLaughlin, Director of Curriculum

Cat oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of educational programs and curricula within our district. She ensures alignment with educational standards, goals, and objectives. Collaborating with educators, instructional coaches, and administrators to design effective learning experiences for all students. Her role involves instructional leadership, curriculum planning, staff development, and continuous improvement of educational offerings. Cat enjoys spending time in the classroom and getting the chance to learn new things from each teacher she works with. In her spare time, she enjoys quilting, spending time with her family, and watching the antics of their two-house rabbits.

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Susan Cantara, Human Resource Assistant/Receptionist

Susan answers and redirects all phone calls, and opens and distributes all mail. She also does filing for Human Resources, files employee incident reports for workers compensation, and schedules the conference room for meetings. She handles fingerprinting for the district and recently became a Notary Public. Susan, who spent 23 years as an operating room anesthesia technician at Springfield Hospital, enjoys camping, gardening and spending time with her three grandchildren.

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Jennifer Guess, Administrative Assistant to the Director of Special Education

Jennifer enters and maintains data on SAU6’s out-of-district students, reports monthly to the State’s special education information system on tuition to ensure adequate funding for the yearly budget; and is responsible for the billing and payment of independent transportation services. She is also involved with “402s” (court-placed and foster children), works with staff on Extended School Year programs; and is a liaison with the district’s psychologists and speech, language and OT specialists. Jennifer makes referrals for meetings and determination of new special education students; maintains Ben Nester’s schedule; and manages purchase orders and supplies. Jennifer has an MA in Library Science, and has experience as a testing coordinator. A professional dancer, she teaches dance in local ballet schools, and has directed/choreographed shows with dancers ages 3 to 80. Jennifer enjoys walking and swimming.

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Brianna Connell, Out of District Coordinator

Brianna facilitates the placement and support of students requiring education out-of-district. She collaborates with families, schools, and agencies to ensure appropriate placements, coordinates transportation, and manages administrative tasks related to out-of-district programs while ensuring compliance with relevant policies and regulations. Brianna enjoys traveling, running and skiing in her free-time.

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Kimberly Hamel, Accounts Payable Specialist

Kimberly does data entry for all invoices that come to the district, whether by mail, email or through the portal, then submits a weekly packet for payment approval. Following approval, she prints and mails checks. Kimberly’s experience in accounts payable/payroll procedures includes seven years at Bremco and 13 years at the Student Conservation Association. Kimberly enjoys trips to the ocean and spending time outside with her two labs. 

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Danielle Skinner, Power School / Data Manager / District Food Program Coordinator

Danielle manages all facets of the Power School student information system, from data entry to submitting state and federal reports to the New Hampshire Department of Education (via i4see) on such factors as demographics and attendance. She assists students and parents with applications and determining letters for free and reduced meals, and shares this information with other community programs that provide services to qualified students. Danielle files the annual application that allows the district to participate in the federal food program, tracks meals (free, reduced and paid), handles food services contracts (Meals Plus), and does kitchen observations in accordance with financial audits. Danielle enjoys spending time with her family and following school sports.

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Michael Koski, Assistant Superintendent

Mike earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology (Gordon College), as well as two degrees focusing on school administration — a Master’s in Education (Salem State University) and an Education Specialist degree (UNH). For seven years, he was the science curriculum director in the Windham N.H. schools. In Fitchburg, Mass., he was the K-12 STEM Specialist, working with teachers on science instruction. He was a Science Outreach Specialist for six years with UNH Cooperative Extension, working mostly with after-school program training. His outside interests include spending time with his family (four daughters and two granddaughters), watching college basketball, fishing and gardening.

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Megan Fagans, Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent

Megan’s duties include data entry, filing, managing letters of homeschooling intent, working with Catlin McLaughlin on grant accounting, recording and approving reimbursement to teachers and paraprofessionals for courses they take, and assisting Michael Koski with curriculum development tasks. Most recently, she worked at Springfield Hospital in accounts payable. In her spare time Megan enjoys camping, kayaking, and reading.

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Ben Nester, Director of Special Education

In his eighth year with the district, Ben oversees all special education programming, by providing access to curriculum and ensuring free and appropriate education in accordance with the American Disabilities Act for SAU6’s 400 special education students. He monitors those students who are placed out of district while working on preventive measures to keep them in district. He oversees a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians, practitioners and school psychologists, supervises the social workers, and monitors the ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) teacher. Ben enjoys both fly and ice fishing as well as boating on Lake Sunapee with his family.

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Heidi Sprague, Medicaid Specialist

Heidi manages all Medicaid forms and documents on qualified students, as well as related services for their IEPs (Individual Education Plans). She keeps the database current and reports yearly to Medicaid on that data. She also works with psychologists and specialists as needed. Heidi cuts wood for her at-home fireplace and spends time outside with her three dogs.

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Mary Henry, Business Administrator

Mary manages financial operations, budgeting, procurement, and personnel functions within the district. She ensures efficient resource allocations, financial planning and compliance with regulations, while supporting our school’s mission statement. In her free time Mary enjoys spending time with her family, crocheting, and helping rescue dogs find loving homes.  

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Lori Mowrey, Finance Director

Lori manages financial transactions, maintains accounting records, prepares financial statements, and assists with budgeting and auditing. She ensures compliance with financial regulations and manages payroll and accounts payables. She comes to SAU6 from SAU60 of 15 years as the finance director. She is a member of ASBO and NHGFOA. In her leisure time, she and her husband enjoy four-wheeling, snowmobiling, electric bike riding and more importantly, spending time with their daughters and 8 grandchildren ages 18 to 16 months.

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Karen White, Payroll Specialist

Karen is responsible for managing payroll processes. This includes ensuring accurate tax deductions and benefit allocations, maintaining payroll records, and addressing any payroll-related inquiries or discrepancies. She collaborates with the human resource department, finance, and administration to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and policies. Most recently, she was the office manager at the Sullivan County Department of Corrections, where she was responsible for phone calls, payroll, safety equipment and supplies. She enjoys cooking, walking and spending time with her grandchildren.

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Jeff Small, Director of Technology

Jeff is responsible for all technology-related issues, including policies and procedures; system back-up; rostering of new programs for students and staff; a district-wide telephone system; door access and security cameras; monitoring and increasing cyber security; forecasting new technologies to feed into the annual budget; and equipment repair (“anything that draws power,” such as wi-fi, interactive panels, teacher laptops, document cameras (projectors), and sound systems). Jeff, a member of the Millennial Running Group, has run 5Ks and 10Ks in Florida and New Hampshire, including the Claremont Kiwanis Club Brewfest 5K.