By RUSSELL JONES
A new Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment has been hired for the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union. The RNESU board approved Dr. Kristen Hubert on Tuesday, April 30, after Andy Kepes left the position in March to become the Ferrisburgh Central School principal.
Hubert, a Rutland resident, has plenty of experience in the education field, most recently serving as faculty and coordinator of professional education at Upper Valley Educator’s Institute. Before that, Hubert taught elementary and middle school before taking a position as principal of Fisher Elementary and then Northwest Primary for 14 years.
“I am very excited to bring Kristin on board to join the RNESU, OVUU and BUU faculty and staff and to help us achieve alignment and equity for all of our schools and students,” RNESU superintendent Jeanńe Collins said. “With a strong background in curriculum, trauma/poverty needs, and professional development for educators, as well as experience in proficiency based learning and project based learning, Kristin is a natural fit for our initiatives.”
Hubert has a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Northeastern University, a Master’s degree in leadership from Castleton and earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont.
One of the district’s main goals is to promote equity across all campuses. Hubert said the key to equity is the need to work towards first establishing a common definition for what equity means in area schools and shifting the language and paradigm from a mindset of “my kids” to “our kids.”
“My doctoral research was focused on Vermont’s Act 46 and school mergers, with a specific eye towards leadership’s role and responsibility in ensuring equity in new school communities,” Hubert said. “As educators and community members begin to believe that all students are “theirs,” it becomes easier to have conversations about resources, personnel, and programs that are in the best interest of everyone.”
Hubert said her first priority will be getting into all of the schools and meeting people, building relationships and taking time to understand the different needs and values of each of the schools and their teams.
“I know there are goals in place around proficiency based learning, middle school models, a comprehensive assessment system, and social emotional learning,” she said. “I intend to do my part to support and sustain these efforts in schools and with building leaders.”
Hubert will begin the job starting on July 1.
