NASHUA – The Nashua School District recently filled three leadership positions. In the fall, students at Ledge Street Elementary School will be welcomed back by new principal Chas Miller. Students at Nashua High School North will be greeted by Nate Burns, who will remove the “interim” from his title and will settle into his role as principal. Marcia Bagley, who has been assistant director of special education for two years, will step up as director.

Chas Miller

The only new face to the district, Chas Miller is a “worldly guy” who “brings a lot of energy” to the table, according to Jahmal Mosley, superintendent of schools.

It has been about a year since Ledge Street has had a permanent principal after Janet Valeri was removed from her position in May, still with no explanation.

Because of this, Mosley said, they have been “very deliberate in making sure the (new principal) was the right fit.”

This, he said, they found in Miller, who has experience, familiarity with Title I schools and diverse populations.

“He has the right temperament and approach,” Mosley said, adding that Miller had been excited to get in the schools and start talking to the teachers right away.

Miller has been a principal for 12 years, currently at Ardmore Elementary School in Washington, and in Raleigh, North Carolina before.

However, after four years on the west coast, he said he and his wife, who are originally from New England, missed their family, which led them to Nashua.

His first goal is to “listen to understand,” he said, and “set up structures of communication” to talk with teachers, parents and students alike about their “hopes and dreams for making Ledge Street Elementary School the best it can be.” Kids in particular, he said, will always be candid about that.

“Everybody, students, parents, teachers, need to be involved in the vision of where the school is going,” Miller explained. “We need to make sure to give everyone a voice … if we tap into that richness and diversity, my gosh, spectacular things happen.”

When he starts in Nashua, Mosley said he will be a positive force helping to provide a culture of stability and move the building forward.

Nate Burns

While the district welcomes Miller as a new member, Nate Burns has been a face in the Nashua School District for 18 years, and then for 12 years as a student before that.

He started as interim principal of Nashua North in August, and Mosley said he is “very pleased” to have him as principal long-term.

His responsibilities won’t change, but he will continue to work toward improving the climate and culture of the schools, which he has already made “good inroads” in achieving, Burns said.

He also hopes improve student achievement and providing a meaningful student experience for the diverse group of students in Nashua, he said.

Additionally, one of Burns’ goals is to continue working with Nashua High School South while keeping their own school identity.

“I hope to effect some change and do what’s best for my hometown,” he said.

Marcia Bagley

Marcia Bagley has known for a long time that she wanted to work with individuals with special needs; as a high schooler, her first babysitting job was for a young girl with Williams Syndrome, a developmental disorder. The pair formed a strong bond.

“She was my first inspiration,” Bagley said. Since then, she has worked with both adults and children, most recently as an assistant director of the special education department in Nashua.

With the retirement of Christine Breen, current director, Bagley will be heading the department when school starts in the fall.

“I’m very humbled,” she said, “this is a huge undertaking, I know.”

Mosley said Bagley, who has worked in the district for 11 years, serving previously as preschool coordinator, is “very talented.”

“She knows the students and knows the laws,” he explained. “Chris Breen is leaving and they have worked collaboratively, so it should be a seamless transition.”

In her new role, Bagley said she hopes to start working toward even stronger partnerships with parents “to get them even more involved in their children’s educations.”

She also hopes to work long term on developing cost saving practices districtwide. She will have a role in developing the special education department’s budget.

One of her main goals is to continue offering support to the staff who work with their students every single day.

“We couldn’t do what we do without them,” she said, adding that she hopes to “do good things in Nashua.”

Hannah LaClaire can be reached at 594-1243 or hlaclaire@nashuatelegraph.com.