BELLOWS FALLS-Longtime area educator Kate Kane has been named the new principal of Central Elementary School (CES).
On April 11, the Rockingham School Board appointed her to the K–4 school on the recommendation of Superintendent Andy Haas, effective July 1.
Kane grew up in Cambridgeport, graduating from Bellows Falls Union High School in 1984. She was an English and classics major at Tufts University and got her teaching certificate when she decided that she was interested in a career in education.
In 1991, she helped establish and taught at the Saxtons River Montessori School for five years, eventually becoming head of school.
She has also taught kindergarten, grade 2, and grade 4 at CES, as well as serving as the school librarian there for six years.
Since 2023, Kane has served as the current instructional coach in academics for the Windham Northeast Supervisory Union (WNESU), which includes CES.
In a news release, the school board said that Kane "was selected from a strong pool of candidates" and listed her "exceptional leadership abilities and deep connection to the school community," as key factors in the choice.
"Kate Kane emerged as the clear choice from a solid group of candidates," said Haas. "Her extensive experience within our district, her commitment to academic excellence, and her vision for creating an inclusive learning environment make her the ideal instructional leader for Central Elementary School."
Kane said that she had never had a great desire to move from classroom teaching into administration.
"In education, the real magic happens in the classroom," Kane said. "It's in the relationship between the student and the teacher. I was very happy to stay as a teacher."
But her recent years working at several different schools in the district opened her eyes to "how much the principal makes a difference" in their school - both in good and bad ways.
With that thought in mind, she went back to school, earning a master's degree from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and she recently completed the Principal Internship Program at the Upper Valley Educators Institute in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Balancing high expectations with a sense of belonging
Kane, whose connection to CES dates back to 2001 when her older son began kindergarten there, said the challenges in education are considerable. She noted that the Covid pandemic had a huge impact on schools, students and teachers, and it will take years to overcome the damage done.
"The biggest challenge," she said, "is making sure to get a balance of high expectations for both students and teachers, while also building a safe, nurturing sense of belonging."
Kane said that her responsibility is to create a "relationship with each child and each adult in the building. My role is to support the teachers to be the absolute best that they can be."
She also noted the central importance of education in sustaining our democracy.
Having a good early school experience, Kane feels, is vitally important for a student's later success, both in school and after.
"The educational foundation established in elementary school," she said, "in a lot of ways determines where you go in life."
Kane said that her goal is to meet with all the students' families and make the success of CES a "shared vision."
"We want to meet every child where they are and help them be prepared to succeed," she said.
A 'very special place'
The district supervisor thanked Kerry Kennedy, the current principal, for her years of service to the community. The Rockingham School Board accepted her resignation with regret at the March 10 meeting.
Looking toward the future, the board envisions that under Kane's leadership, "CES will continue to thrive and provide outstanding educational opportunities for our students."
"CES holds a very special place in my heart, and I hope to build on the foundation in place there to elevate student learning, engagement, and joy," Kane said.
And, she added, "I feel like I am going home to one of my favorite places on Earth!"
This News item by Robert F. Smith was written for The Commons.