Exeter Region Coop board interviews two finalists for high‑school principal and approves superintendent recommendation

The Exeter Region Cooperative School District board on July 13 interviewed two finalists for the Exeter High School principal position — Chris Thibault and Tanya Neevey — then moved into nonpublic session and voted to accept the superintendent’s recommendation regarding the vacancy.

Thibault, who described nearly a decade as a high‑school administrator including six years as principal at Somersworth High School, told the board his leadership philosophy centers on people and relationships. "Education is above all about the people," he said, adding that building trust and a culture of shared ownership are prerequisites for school improvement.

Board members asked Thibault how he would build an inclusive culture and measure academic effectiveness. He emphasized Multi‑Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), regular use of classroom and standardized data, and scheduling collaborative time for staff to review benchmarks and interventions.

Tanya Neevey, principal of Main Street School in Exeter, outlined a pre‑K–12 administrative background and said she pursued the high‑school opening to work with secondary students and curriculum. She urged transparent systems that let staff and students feel heard, and described using multiple data sources — formative and summative assessments, SEL screeners, attendance and participation measures — to target supports and identify gaps.

Neevey gave a specific example of a recent, contested decision at her school: a change to Valentine’s Day activities intended to make the celebration more inclusive and reduce waste. She said staff supported the approach, community feedback was mixed, and the school planned to review the results and adjust if needed.

After public questioning, the board moved into a nonpublic session. On returning to the public record, a board member moved to accept the superintendent’s recommendation regarding the principal vacancy; the motion, made by Dawn Bullens and seconded by Amy Ransom, passed on a roll call vote. The meeting then adjourned.

The board did not read the recommendation aloud on the public record during the meeting transcript provided; the superintendent’s office is expected to communicate any appointment details and next steps to the district community.

What the board focused on in the interviews — culture, data use, inclusive practices and operational readiness to lead a larger high school — signals early priorities for the next principal. The board’s vote to accept the superintendent’s recommendation concludes the public portion of the selection process, with formal appointment details to follow from district leadership.