Source: 6A Kitty Hawk Landing Ste 101
Contact: Dan Black, Superintendent
Londonderry, NH 03053
Date: 11/9/2023
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amity Small to Become Next School District Business Administrator
Upon recommendation from the Londonderry School District Business Administrator Hiring Committee, on November 7th, the School Board voted unanimously in support of hiring current Matthew Thornton Principal Amity Small as the next Business Administrator, starting July 1, 2024.
As a graduate of Londonderry High School, Amity Small’s ties to Londonderry run deep; she’s a lifelong resident who’s raised her daughters here. She began her career with the School District as a substitute teacher in 2000 and was hired as an LHS teacher in 2001. She helped build the Future Educators Academy and instituted Little Lancer Day for the District. In 2014, she became an LHS Assistant Principal and served as Director of Alternative Education, helping many students earn their diplomas or HiSet equivalencies through the night school program, working with the Department of Education, and budgeting grant funds.
In 2018, she was hired as the Matthew Thornton principal, where she’s spent the past six years. She helped lead the school community through the pandemic, maintaining traditions and working toward normalcy for students and families. Small has served on and chaired several committees throughout her career, such as the District Wide Collective Bargaining Negotiations, LHS NEASC Mission Statement Committee, the District Wellness Committee, and most recently, the District Communications Committee. Small was inducted into the LHS Hall of Fame in 2018. Amity has already established strong relationships with our Transportation Company and two internal departments – Food Services and Buildings and Grounds from being a district administrator for more than ten years.
Small earned her Master of Arts in Teaching and Principal certification through Rivier University and has been working toward her Business Degree since 2022, in addition to taking NH Association of School Business Officials (NASBO) coursework. The early timing of her hiring allows her to spend time shadowing the expertise of current BA Lisa McKenney. Small is excited to join the Business Office, which is known for its dedicated work ethic and professionalism, financial and project expertise, and decades of clean financial audits.
Superintendent Daniel Black shares of Small, “Going through any hiring process reminds you of two things: how hard it is to find good leaders in education and how fortunate Londonderry is in terms of the strength of our people and leadership team. Amity is a very strong leader, manager and communicator and I feel very fortunate our school district could help her grow into a new role where she could use her talents to strengthen our school system for our whole community. I am glad we could figure out this position so soon in the year to allow for many smooth transitions.”
Small is looking forward to her next chapter with the District Office. The search for a new Matthew Thornton Principal will be underway in the coming weeks.