Community Advisory Committee

Not every student learns the same way.
Some excel through traditional, book-taught, classroom methods.
Some do not.
Student centered learning rethinks where, when, and how students learn.

PMHS has been awarded $200,000 by way of a grant from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation.  PMHS is one of seven schools in New England and the only in NH selected to receive this award. This grant was awarded to PMHS to help in the planning stages of Pittsfield School District’s movement toward an alternative to traditional education called Student-Centered Learning (SCL).

It expands education beyond the school’s walls and traditional ways while it makes the community and its resources an important part of the learning process. Project-based learning, internships, experiential learning, career technical education, peer learning, and apprenticeships are features of student centered learning.

Community Advisory Council (CAC)School District Logo

How Schools and Communities Meet the Challenge

The Pittsfield School District has organized what is called a Community Advisory Council (CAC). It is made up of local community members, area volunteers, school administrators, school board, teachers and students interested in this very exciting concept of changing the way our students learn.  Currently, the Community Advisory Council is putting together a model of how the new concept will look and be applied. By this fall, it is anticipated that the plan will be completed and presented to the community before our final grant application is submitted.

The CAC has divided into six sub-committees:

  • Policy
  • Best Practices
  • Data
  • Logic Model
  • Performance Management
  • Communications

The CAC is also working with PYW as our lead community partner through work with the Carsey Institute to further bridge relationships between school and community.

Please explore the following links for further background information:

Nellie Mae Educational Foundation

The Carsey Institute

Pittsfield Youth Workshop

Center for Secondary School Redesign (CSSR)

CAC Members

Rebekah Adams PMHS Student
Erica Anthony PMHS Parent
Jack Barnes State Senator, District 17
Nelson Beaudoin CSSR Consultant
Bob Bickford PMHS Principal
Susan Bradley Project Manager
Alexandra Briggs PMHS Teacher
Scott Brown Pittsfield CAC Chairperson, Pittsfield Community Business Owner, PMHS Parent (Graduates),  Former School Board Chair
Bill Bryan CSSR Consultant
Tobi Chassie Pittsfield Director of Student Services
Colleen Corliss PMHS Student
Joe Di Martino President, Center for Secondary School  Redesign
Jim Doremus Director, Concord Family YMCA Executive
John Freeman Pittsfield Superintendent
Derek Hamilton PMHS Teacher
Maryclare Heffernan SERESC Consultant
Shawnda Hopkins PMHS Teacher
Louie Houle Chamber of Commerce, PMHS Alumnus, PMHS Parent (Graduate)
Gary Johnson Chief, Pittsfield Fire Department
Lynn Kilchenstein President, New Hampshire Technical Institute
Stephanie Lamere PMHS Parent
Sebastian Manteau PMHS Student
Jennifer Massey PMHS Parent, PMHS Paraprofessional
Bill Miskoe Former Pittsfield Planning Board Chair
Art Morse PMHS Alumnus; Former School Board Member
Ross Morse PES Parent, Former School Board Member, PMHS Alumnus
Jayne Ogata CSSR Consultant
Mary Paradise Chair, Pittsfield School Board
Zach Powers Executive Director PYW, Lead Community Partner
Tom Raffio Member, NH Board of Education; President & CEO, Northeast Delta Dental
Steve Rothenberg Director, Concord Regional Technical Center
Lois Stevens Pittsfield Coordinator of Student Services
Denise Towle President, PMHS Booster Club; PMHS Parent (Graduate); PMHS Parent
Ed Vien Chair, Pittsfield Select Board; Chair, Pittsfield Economic Development Committee; Neutral Conveyer
Leslie Vogt Director, Pittsfield Senior Center; PMHS Parent (Graduates)
Sheila Ward PMHS ELO Coordinator; PMHS Parent
Bob Wharem Chief, Pittsfield Police Department