Penacook Elementary Principal Jenn Moore selected as SAU’s next assistant superintendent

Jenn Moore, Penacook Elementary School’s principal of nine years, will transition next school year to serve as the assistant superintendent of the Merrimack Valley and Andover school districts.

Moore has spent nearly her entire career in Merrimack Valley schools, starting as a special education teacher at the middle school in 2000, before teaching seventh and eighth grade math, social studies and language arts there. She also has experience at the high school level, having worked for five years in a role that involved mentoring new teachers across the district.

Amid a period of leadership transition, Moore’s selection, which was approved by the school administrative unit board last week, continues a practice of promoting internally. Next year, three SAU or district leaders — incoming Superintendent Catherine Masterson, Business Administrator Sam York and Moore — will be in their first or second years in new roles after having served in other administrative positions in the district previously.

The district has not announced a replacement yet for Facilities Director Fred Reagan, who is retiring at the end of this school year.

Moore, who has known Masterson since they taught next door to each other at the middle school more than a decade ago, said the leadership team’s familiarity with each other and with the SAU will be important.

“We have worked together so closely over the last several years, we just won’t have to worry about getting to know one another,” she said. “We’ll be able to hit the ground running.”

After teaching alongside each other, both Moore and Masterson went on to serve as elementary school principals in the district. Masterson has served as assistant superintendent since 2023 and will replace current Superintendent Randy Wormald in July following his retirement.

Masterson said she is excited to get to work alongside Moore.

“She brings instructional expertise, strong relationships and a calm, student-centered leadership style that will be an asset to every school in our district,” Masterson wrote in a statement. “Her skill set complements the work already underway, and her ability to support educators while strengthening communication and collaboration will make a meaningful difference for students, staff and families.”

While Moore is excited for the move up the road, she said she will miss the Penacook Elementary community.

“The teachers that I work with are fantastic, and I certainly am going to miss my daily interactions with students,” Moore said. “That’s something that really lifts me up, and it’s obviously why I came into this profession.”

Masterson said that the Penacook Elementary principal opening will soon be posted.

“I am optimistic that we will have strong candidates eager to join our experienced and talented administrative team,” she wrote. “The person selected will certainly have big shoes to fill.”

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