Chuck Patterson will serve as NCES Executive Director
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 NCES is pleased to announce that Chuck Patterson has been named to serve as the next Executive Director of the organization starting in July.
Chuck, a North Country native, has most recently served as the Director of Curriculum, MTSS, and Grants for the Essex North Supervisory Union in Vermont. He was a science teacher at White Mountains Regional High School, a STEM teacher Colebrook Academy, and also served in administrative roles at Lancaster School and Canaan Schools.
Early in his teaching career, Chuck engaged in several professional development opportunities at NCES. He feels those experiences helped to shape who he became as a hands-on STEM educator. He currently serves on the board for the Vermont Rural Educational Collaborative, an agency with a similar mission to NCES that serves member school districts in northern Vermont.
A resident of Lancaster, NH, Chuck is excited about the opportunity to serve the educational community of the North Country and contribute to the ongoing success of NCES.
After serving as Executive Director for twelve years, Lori Langlois will continue with NCES in a different capacity. She will serve as the Director of Programs and IT, providing continuity in offerings and supporting the transition to the new leadership.
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STEM XRP Opportunity in Whitefield - 20 Free Robots!
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Louise Tillotson Teaching Fellowship Accepting Applications
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The application for the Louise Tillotson Teaching Fellowship is now live!
In 2024, the Fellowship was paused for redesign to deepen its impact on local schools and communities. Beginning in 2025, the Fellowship will feature a facilitated learning cohort, stipends, and funding to support for a passion project undertaken by the fellows.
This is a fantastic opportunity for early career through veteran educators. The 2025 fellow cohort will play a key role in shaping the program, ensuring it remains relevant and meaningful to educators’ needs—a fellowship for local educators, designed by local educators.
Additional information about the 2025 Fellowship can be found here:
https://tillotsonfund.org/louise-tillotson-teaching-fellowship/
Applications will be reviewed by a committee of Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund representatives and partners on a rolling basis until May 12th. Finalists will be invited to in-person interviews. The first LTTF cohort will be announced by June 1st, 2025.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Bill Church, Consultant for The Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund. Bill's email is bill@crcs.works.
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Design Challenge Network coming to the North Country!
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 Design Challenge Learning is a research-backed, classroom-tested methodology in which students identify a problem they care about, design a new solution to address it, create a paper and video, and present their work to a panel of judges while competing against other students.
DCN currently has teachers and students from 20 New Hampshire high schools. The program works equally well for STEM, ELA, and Humanities teachers
DCN is excited to host its first North Country Design Challenge in the 2025-26 school year and are beginning to form a teacher cohort. This introductory session will provide an overview so you can assess joining the program.
- DCN provides everything teachers need to implement the program.
- 98% of students say they would recommend the program to a friend and 100% of teachers want to return the following year.
- The experience is flexible and adaptable for teachers and will serve your academic, competency, and career-connected learning goals.
Visit DCN's website to learn more: www.designchallengenetwork.org/
Testimonial:
“My students were more engaged in this than anything we've done all year. In fact, they were more engaged in this than anything that I've done in any of my classes all year.”
– New Hampshire teacher, Hinsdale High School, Spring 2024
There are two informational webinars to choose from to learn more:
Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 3::30-4:00 or 7:00-7:30.
“My students were more engaged in this than anything we've done all year. In fact, they were more engaged in this than anything that I've done in any of my classes all year.”
– New Hampshire teacher, Hinsdale High School, Spring 2024
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For more information, contact Greg Williams, Substance Misuse Prevention Coordinator/
Continuum of Care Coordinator, at North Country Health Consortium, gwilliams@nchcnh.org.
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Hopeville: How to Win the Reading Wars
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Schedule a School Visit through May 11th:
Traveling Smithsonian Exhibit in Jefferson
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The Jefferson Historical Society (JHS) is very pleased to announce that they will be hosting (in conjunction with the New Hampshire Humanities Council and local partners the Town of Jefferson, the Marc A Hurzerler M.D. Library, and the Heartwood Public Charter School) a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution: " Crossroads: Change in Rural America".
JHS is very interested in having school groups visit the exhibit, which highlights the evolving landscape of rural America. Designed for small-town museums, libraries, and cultural organizations, "Crossroads" will serve as a community meeting place for conversations about how rural America has changed. The focus of the exhibit is to raise people's understanding about their own history, the joys and challenges of a living rural life, how change has impacted their community, and to prompt discussion of goals for the future. This interactive exhibit is most appropriate for 4th grade and higher but all are welcome to attend.
The exhibit will be at the Jefferson Community Center (former elementary school), 178 Meadows Rd., Jefferson, NH 03583 through Saturday, May 11, 2025. They plan to be open 40 hours per week (closed Sundays) and are willing to work with schools on whatever hours are convenient for them for a visit. Admission is free to the exhibit.
Since the JHS is an all volunteer organization the best way for schools to arrange a visit is to call Adele Woods at (603)723-5540 or email woods.in.nh@gmail.com.
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Info Session on UNH School MH Graduate Program
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Civics "Train the Trainer" Opportunity
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For more information, contact communications@nhcivics.org.
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Join like-minded colleagues on the 1st Tuesday of the month (usually) at 4:00pm for "LITTLE BYTES"!!!
Each month, NHSTE presents a 30-minute in depth review of just ONE tech concept to help you!
Each LITTLE BYTE includes a 20 minute overview, 3 ideas, tips, or tools you can use immediately, and 10 minutes for Q&A and sharing.
Learn more at https://nhste.org/events
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Define, Design and Do! Climate Solutions in Your Community
 How can you integrate real-world problem solving, joy, and impactful climate solutions into our schools and communities? Come work and play with NHEEP/VEEP in the White Mountains of NH as they approach these questions together. Along with expertise from VEEP/NHEEP you will gain insights from several of our Youth Climate Leaders, MindSpark Learning, which specializes in problem-based learning to prepare students for the modern workforce, as well as the fabulous cohort of skilled educators like yourself who choose to participate in the program. You will plan a curriculum that cultivates hope and brings students meaningful learning opportunities to tackle relevant climate solutions for their community. Open to all educators, any grade, any subject.
Participants will:
- Figure out how to make climate learning problem-based, hands-on and accessible to all students
- Become comfortable using student-driven learning practices in any subject as modeled through the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
- Find locally relevant, hopeful, solutions-focused learning opportunities related to climate and energy
- Practice finding a pathway to action while navigating specific standards, constraints, and circumstances
Sign up by May 1st to receive early bird pricing and save your district or organization $100 on the course fee. Here’s what some of past participants had to say about the Summer Institute program, and here’s a flyer if you want to help spread the word. Scholarships are available to NH and VT teachers– contact NHEEP/VEEP for more information at info@veep.org.
Register: Online
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New Hampshire Middle School Science Fair
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Date: May 22, 20025
Location: NHTI, Concord, NH
Who can participate in NHSEE - Middle School Expo?
To participate in NHSEE - Middle School, students need to meet the following conditions:
1. Be a resident of NH, even if they are going to a school that is not in NH.
2. Or be attending a public or private school in NH, even if they live outside of NH.
3. Or be Home-schooled in NH.
4. And be in Grades 5 to 8.
Learn more
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Drinking Water Festival & Science Fair
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The NH Drinking Water Festival and State Water Science Fair Finals is now open to both 4th and 5th graders! The Water Poetry Contest is open to 3rd through 5th graders!
Learn more at https://nhwaterfestival.org/
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Coos Coalition for Young Children & Families News
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Childcare Solutions Convening
The Coös Coalition for Young Children and Families, alongside community partners, including the Coös County Director Network, early childhood educators, funders, and state-level champions of childcare and early childhood education, hosted another successful convening of 60+ people to strategize childcare solutions in March.
Early Childhood Connections Summit with Resource Fair
On March 20th, the Early Childhood Connections Summit was held at White Mountains Regional High School with over 80 participants. Kathleen Plante, M.S., CCC-SLP and Samantha Sloan, M.S., CCC-SLP provided an insightful presentation titled, Speech & Language Development and Growing Great Communicators. In addition the keynote and breakout sessions, this summit added a mini-resource fair the event. Several family and community serving organizations participated.
Early Childhood Screening Days
Connect with early childhood professionals to complete an Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) screening on your child. ASQs provide helpful information about your child's physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development. You can also learn about activities, resources, and actions to help enhance your child's development. No cost.
- Gorham, Randolph, Shelburne area: April 9th at GCLC - Register
- Littleton area: April 10th at 241 Main Street - Register
- Colebrook and surrounding towns: May 15th at Country Day School - Register
- Whitefield screenings were held in February
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Mikva Challenge for Civic Engagement
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Mikva’s four main program areas involve young people in civic engagement through hands-on, project-based learning that deeply transforms students’ civic attitudes, skills, and sense of agency. Mikva's four programs are:
- Project Soapbox, public speaking for K-12
- Issues to Action
- Elections in Action
- Student Voice Committees
Learn more about the Mikva Challenge in NH at https://www.nhcivics.org/our-work/teachers-students/mikva-challenge/
The NH Partner Site Director is Amanda Maguire, amandam@mikvachallenge.org
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There has never been a better time to enter the public discourse and focus Granite Staters on what’s possible in our state. NH Possible envisions a state where individuals, families, communities, and businesses all have what they need to thrive, including a sense of belonging, opportunities for civic engagement, optimal health, and access to educational and financial opportunity.
NH Possible is working to provide a unifying space for people who don’t usually work together to find a common cause.
Learn more at https://www.nhpossible.org/
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UNH Tech for Teachers Institute, July 14-25
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The UNH Tech for Teachers Institute is a dynamic, paid professional development program open to middle and high school teachers from across all STEM subject areas. The focus of the program is two-fold: Building knowledge of an emerging technology—this year regenerative medicine and biofabrication—and the transformation of instructional practice through project-based learning.
The Institute will take place July 15-26 on the UNH Durham campus. Upon completion, participants will receive a $1,500 award, CEUs, classroom supplies and ongoing support from UNH faculty and graduate students.
Learn more
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STEM Ready Community of Practice
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Click image above for full flyer.
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Practical Strategies for Teen Substance Use
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Dartmouth Health Project ECHO is inviting you to join an engaging and comprehensive series designed to provide school staff and community organizations with enhanced skills and effective strategies to support adolescents and family structures who use or are exposed to substance use. This series will increase knowledge of addiction science and provide practical tools to address adolescent substance use across the continuum of use. This series is designed to provide actionable insights and practical techniques that you can implement immediately. Let's work together to support adolescents to create positive change in their relationship with substances.
Schedule: Every Wednesday from 12:00-1:00pm EST, April 30th through June 4th, 2025
View/download flyer
Register
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FY26 NHSCA Arts Education Grant Programs
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Youth Arts Project Grant
Fiscal Year 2026 Youth Arts Project Grant Guidelines
Deadline: Friday, April 18th 2025 (to fund projects in the period of July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026):
Youth Arts Project (YAP) Grants fund high-quality educational opportunities in the arts. Arts learning fosters positive social and emotional skills and bolsters creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. YAP grants broaden access to diverse forms of artistic and cultural practices and can engage youth in contributing to community goals. Grants fund programs in all arts disciplines including dance, theatre, media, music, visual arts, craft, and creative writing. NHSCA is committed to sustaining the capacity of teaching artists and supporting their impact on local communities. Engaging teaching artists to lead the arts learning is a core element of this program.
Artist in Residence Grant
Fiscal Year 2026 Artist in Residence Grant Guidelines
Deadline: Friday, April 25th 2025 (to fund projects in the period of August 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026):
Artist in Residence (AIR) grants provide funding to invite juried teaching artists to lead rigorous educational experiences in the arts, both in public schools and nonprofits serving as alternative education sites. Visiting teaching artists support deeper learning of arts competencies, STEAM projects, interdisciplinary arts integration, and broadening access to culturally diverse artistic practices. Learning through the arts develops creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration and supports school goals for wellness and social and emotional learning. Grants can be used to fund residencies in all arts disciplines including dance, theatre, media, music, visual arts, craft, and creative writing.
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Out-of-School Time Convention
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Barry Conservation Summer Camps
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Located in the scenic White Mountain National Forest on the grounds of the Berlin Fish Hatchery, Barry Conservation Camp is great for kids who love the outdoors, enjoy hands-on learning, and can benefit from participating in a small camp. Each week has a theme but also includes a generous complement of traditional camp activities such as swimming, hiking, campfire, canoeing, skits, fishing, archery, and more. Barry Conservation Camp is operated by the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension 4-H Program in partnership with the N.H. Fish and Game Department.
Barry Camp Sessions:
- 4-H Shooting Sports
- Mini-Camp
- Fish Camp
- 4-H on the Wildside
- Hunter Education
- North Country Adventure
- Junior Conservation Officer Camp
Learn more
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The 2025 Granite Edvance Scholarship is now open! This year, Granite Edvance is awarding $750,000 in scholarships to new and returning NH college and trade school students. Scholarships will be awarded in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 in five categories Leadership and Community Service, First Generation College Student, Academic Excellence, and Life Experience.
To be eligible, you must be a NH resident enrolled in a two-year or four-year college or Title IV-eligible trade school for the fall of 2025. The application deadline for four-year students is May 7, 2025, and the application deadline for two-year and trade school students is July 9, 2025. Learn more and apply at Graniteedvance.org/ge-scholarship.
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The NH Charitable Foundation is now accepting applications for the Student Aid program. In order to qualify, a student just needs to live in NH and be pursuing some sort of post-secondary education. There is a single online application; in completing just one application a student is considered for all of the NHCF funds for which they are eligible.
Important dates to keep in mind:
- Dependent bachelor’s candidates and all graduate students must apply by Friday, April 11 at 5:00 pm ET.
- All other students (independent bachelor’s candidates, associate degree candidates, certificate candidates, students in an apprenticeship or licensing program, etc.) can apply on a rolling deadline through December 12 at 5:00 pm ET.
Each year, the NHCF awards more than $8 million in scholarships to help New Hampshire students with the fewest resources and most promise realize their educational goals, whether it’s a two- or four-year college degree, certificate, or professional license.
Learn more at www.nhcf.org/scholarships
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Destination College is a free annual statewide college planning event held each spring for New Hampshire high school juniors and their families. Attendees can participate in a variety of free college planning workshops, learn tips about the college application process from experts in the field, attend a college fair and more!
Learn more
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Copper Cannon Summer Camps
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New Hampshire Youth eligible for the USDA Free or Reduced Lunch Program are eligible for a free week of summer camp fun! Located in Franconia, Copper Cannon is a coed recreational summer camp. Learn more.
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And from our partners at WMSI...
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North Country Robotics Festival in Littleton
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Participation is free and open to the public. No registration is required.
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NCES Employment Opportunities
For the 2025-2026 school year
- Speech Language Pathologist (full or part-time, not remote)
- Speech Language Assistant (full or part-time, not remote)
- TESOL (part-time or full-time, not remote)
How to apply
Did you know that NCES' full-time employment opportunities include participation the NH Retirement System? That is a great benefit to becoming part of the NCES service provider team!
Every day across New Hampshire, infants and toddlers are learning new skills, but they learn and grow at their own pace. Parents or other caregivers who have concerns about an infant’s or toddler’s development can get coaching and support through the New Hampshire Birth to 3 early intervention program.
Anyone can refer a Family Centered Early Supports & Services.
Learn more at dhhs.nh.gov/BirthTo3 or call 603-271-4488.
North Country Neighbors - Stronger Together
Support the mission of NCES
Your tax deductible donation will support NCES' mission. NCES collaborates with public schools and community partners to support excellent and equitable educational opportunities throughout the North Country.
NCES seeks exceptional educational experiences and realized potential for all students.
NCES believes that thriving schools are at the heart of vibrant communities!
The core values of NCES:
Contact Information
North Country Education Services
300 Gorham Hill Road
Gorham, NH 03581
ncedservices.org
603-466-5437
nces@ncedservices.org
NCES is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
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