NHLI | New Hampshire Learning Initiative

All Students Deserve a Quality Education

Why NHLI?

It’s all about the students. We came together because we believe every student deserves access to a high-quality education system that creates pathways for a bright future. To foster that student success, we work hard to support educators, district leaders, and building administrators in learning and implementing a student-centered system of learning.

We believe in...

Pathways for Personalized Learning

Every student learns differently, which is why student-centered learning helps districts and schools meet students where they are and give them agency over their education. Empowered students lead to successful, confident adults.

Career, College, and Life Readiness Pathways

A student’s learning experience should empower them to create pathways to their college and career futures. We provide the tools and support through student-centered learning to transform how students view and apply their education.

Making Change Together

Our partners and collaborative relationships help schools deliver truly beneficial learning initiatives that lead to proven outcomes, and are backed by research.

About Us NHLI Image

How We’re Organized

NHLI operates with a two-tiered business model. We receive grant funding from the federal and state levels, as well as private foundations who support our mission, and we conduct fee-for-service professional development.

 

A National Footprint for a Local Issue

What began as a New Hampshire-based initiative to introduce an innovative assessment model for districts, has grown into a national effort to rethink education and assessment. We are proud to partner with states and organizations across the country to build a more equitable assessment system for students.

Meet the Team

Ellen Hume-Howard

Ellen Hume-Howard

Executive Director

Ellen Hume-Howard serves as Executive Director of the New Hampshire Learning Initiative (NHLI), leading statewide and national efforts in competency-based education, performance assessment design, and student-centered learning systems. More Info >

Mariane Gfroerer

Mariane Gfroerer

Director of Advanced Studies

Mariane is Director of Advanced Studies for the New Hampshire Learning Initiative. In this role she assists schools and districts to build transformational educator leadership in competency education More Info >

Kathy White

Kathy White

Director of Deeper Learning

Kathy White serves as Director of Deeper Learning Projects at NHLI, leading statewide initiatives in competency-based education, performance assessment, human-centered design, and scalable professional learning. More Info >

Ann Hadwen

Ann Hadwen

Director of Educator Development and Coaching

Ann Hadwen serves as Director of Educator Development and Coaching at NHLI, leveraging over 30 years of experience as a teacher, administrator, and curriculum leader to drive instructional growth. More Info >

Bari Boisvert

Bari Boisvert

Director of Student-Centered Learning

Bari Boisvert serves as Director of Student-Centered Learning at NHLI, bringing 26+ years of classroom and leadership experience to empower educators in competency-based and project-based learning. More Info >

Sue Downer

Sue Downer

Director of STEM and Performance Learning

Sue Downer serves as Director of STEM and Performance Learning at NHLI, bringing 30+ years of science education experience, award-winning leadership, and expertise in OpenSciEd. More Info >

Jodi Kincaid Tamayoshi

Jodi Kincaid Tamayoshi

Director of Educational and Operational Technologies

Jodi Kincaid Tamayoshi partners with school district leaders to drive AI integration, lead change management initiatives, and build educator capacity through targeted coaching and professional development. More Info >

Debbie Metcalfe Quint

Debbie Metcalfe Quint

Business Administrator

Debbie joined NHLI part-time in 2019 to support the important work being done by NHLI and its outstanding staff. More Info >

NHLI Board of Directors

Val Zanchuk

Val Zanchuk

NHLI President

Val is President of Graphicast, Inc., a Jaffrey based manufacturer of precision-machined zinc alloy castings. Val has been active in STEM education and workforce development issues for almost 20 years. More Info >

Christine Rath

Christine Rath

Board Member

Christine is the former Superintendent of Schools in Concord, New Hampshire, where she served in administrative roles for 30 years, as middle school principal, high school principal, assistant superintendent before becoming superintendent. More Info >

Irv Richardson

Irv Richardson

Board Member

Irv is currently the Coordinator for Public Education and School Support at NEA- New Hampshire. In this role, he provides professional learning opportunities for New Hampshire educators. Irv also teaches at Southern New Hampshire University in the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program. More Info >

Will Arvelo

Will Arvelo

Treasurer

Will Arvelo brings over 30 years of leadership experience within higher education and economic development. A former President of Great Bay Community College, Will worked tirelessly to bridge higher education […] More Info >

Jennifer Pomykato

Jennifer Pomykato

Board Member

Jennifer brings over 40 years of experience in public education to the NHLI board, with a strong background in student services and special education. An advocate for all students and […] More Info >

Paul Leather

Paul Leather

Board Member

Paul Leather is the Partner for Policy and Local and State Partnerships for the Center of Innovation in Education, C!E, and directs the Interstate Learning Community for the Center for […] More Info >

Nathan Harris

Nathan Harris

Board Member

Nathan Harris is a Ph.D. student at the University of New Hampshire concentrating on Education—leadership and policy. He is a retired Medical Executive with 34 years of operations, marketing, sales, […] More Info >

Former Board Members

Bill Duncan

Bill Duncan

Founding Board President

William “Bill” Duncan served as the first President of the Board of Directors of the New Hampshire Learning Initiative (NHLI), helping guide the organization during its formative years and establish […] More Info >

Dr. Mark Joyce

Dr. Mark Joyce

Mark is the former executive director of the New Hampshire School Administrator’s Association, a private not-for-profit organization that represents all New Hampshire school system administrators and advocates on behalf of all children and public education. More Info >

Support for Success

We couldn’t do what we do without the support – both financially and in efforts and activities – of other like-minded organizations.

In It Together: Organizations Involved in CBL Work

There are many organizations that are aligned with our mission and
conducting similar activities and efforts in districts and schools across
the country.

The Center for Innovation in Education

New Hampshire School Administrators Association

NHASP

Aurora Institute

EDUCAUSE

New Hampshire Department of Education

Next Generation Learning Challenges

Future Focused Education

Learning Policy Institute

NH School Board Association

Portrait of a Graduate

School Retool

NEA NH

Center for Collaborative Education (CCE)

Reaching Higher NH

OGAP

Students at the Center

BEST

Get to know us even better – work with us!

Contact Us