Superintendent of Schools Debra Livingston has named
the district’s new director of student services and preschool coordinator, as
well as two assistant principals. The Board of School Committee officially approved
the hires at last week’s meeting.
As director of student services, Dr. Jennifer Dolloff
will be responsible for the school district’s special education program,
maintaining and monitoring the records of all students receiving services. She
will supervise special education staff across the district and serve as chief
advocate for the needs of Manchester’s special education students at the state
and national levels.
Dr. Dolloff comes to our district from the Southeastern
Regional Education Service Center (SERESC) in Bedford. SERESC is a consortium
of educational consultants and programs providing school districts across the
state with resources and assistance. Dr. Dolloff’s role there primarily focused
on the needs of children receiving special education services.
“My first priority will be to develop a full
understanding of the special education programs and services available to
students in Manchester,” said Dr. Dolloff. “I look forward to visiting schools
and talking with students, staff, and parents.”
After beginning her career as a classroom special education
teacher, Dr. Dolloff served as special education coordinator in the Monadnock
Regional School District for five years, then as director of special education
for the Nashua School District, before moving to her most recent position at
SERESC in 2004. Dr. Dolloff received her doctorate of education from Rivier
University and holds advanced degrees in education from the University of
Massachusetts and Boston College.
Mary Beth Shea is the new special education
coordinator for the district’s Selma Deitch Early Learning Program. She will
oversee preschool for three- and four-year olds at five school locations, as
well as the daily operations of Child Find, the team of specialists which
evaluates and identifies children who qualify for special education or related
services.
During her education career, Shea has been principal
of two Massachusetts elementary schools, assistant principal of another, and
social worker for two school districts, including Manchester. In that role from
2013 to 2015, she provided support to our city’s refugee and homeless students
in grades six to 12. Shea is happy to return to Manchester in a new capacity.
“I believe it is essential for parents and educators
to work together as partners to ensure children develop solid academic skills
and a lifelong love of learning,” Shea said. “I am looking forward to getting
to know the preschool staff, and learning how I can best support their work.”
Shea replaces Pam Agate, who served as Manchester’s
preschool special education coordinator since 2011 and is now assistant
principal at Jewett Street Elementary School. First a paraprofessional, then
preschool special education teacher, Agate also was a teaching assistant
principal for three years, supervising preschool staff and approximately 300
students in the Selma Deitch Early Learning Program.
West High School also welcomes a new assistant
principal, Laura Lord. She is another familiar face in Manchester, most
recently serving as special education teacher and case manager at Hillside Middle
School. There, Lord developed and implemented Individual Education Plans,
collaborating with teachers to ensure support for the students who have IEPs.
Her skills and experience are a strength for her new role at West, which
focuses on student services.
Lord and Agate began the academic year at their new
schools; Dr. Dolloff and Shea will take on their positions before the end of
September.
“Manchester is fortunate to welcome these talented new
leaders to the school district,” Dr. Livingston said. “Their contributions to
education in our city will support the work we do every day to help students reach
the high quality standards we’ve set.”
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