About Us
The Vermont Rural Education Collaborative inspires school communities to LEARN, SHARE, and THRIVE.
Three Pathways
VREC integrates three pathways of innovate, advocate and partner into our work with schools, higher education, member organizations and the Vermont Agency of Education.
We support schools in their efforts to advance equity and inclusive practices.
We provide a strong voice through our collective advocacy for sound educational public policy and funding.
We recognize the achievements of students, educators and community members.
We promote the development of all components of effective community schools.
We amplify the stories of our school communities with an asset-based focus.
We communicate the research and data that illustrates an accurate picture of our rural schools within the context of Vermont and beyond.
Bringing Learning Opportunities to the Northeast Kingdom
Schools and SU/SDs in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont work collaboratively to provide learning opportunities for students and professional development for educators across our region. We serve the following districts:
Caledonia Central Supervisory
Essex North Supervisory Union
Kingdom East Supervisory District
North Country Supervisory Union
Orange East Supervisory Union
Orleans Central Supervisory
Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union
St. Johnsbury School District
View the full list of schools we serve.
VREC is a 501(c)3 with a board of directors. Read our 2024-25 Annual Report.
History of the Vermont Rural Education Collaborative
The Vermont Rural Education Collaborative and its predecessor, The Vermont Rural Partnership, have served school communities in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom for more than 20 years. Read the full history of rural education in Vermont here.
View past annual report for more background information on VREC:
VREC Staff
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: JOHN A. CASTLE
John moved with his family from Jersey City, New Jersey to an old farmhouse on 80 acres of land in Holland, Vermont in the summer of 1972. He started second grade at Holland School in Marion Petell’s grades 1-2 classroom and graduated from North Country Union High School. John has worked as a teacher, coach, athletic director, and school administrator at the college, high school, elementary, and supervisory union levels in Vermont for more than 30 years.
Administrative Assistant: Liz Butterfield
Liz joined the VREC team as Administrative Assistant in January 2026, bringing with her an extensive background in educational support and district communications. She previously served for more than 11 years as the Executive Assistant and Communications Coordinator for the North Country Supervisory Union, where she managed district-wide messaging, event organization, and crisis planning. Liz also held a similar leadership support role at the Orleans Central Supervisory Union.
Married for 45 years, she and her husband, Bob, share a home with her 93-year-old mother and take great joy in their nine grandchildren. Having raised three sons in the Northeast Kingdom, Liz is deeply committed to supporting the rural school communities that have shaped her family across generations.
Contact Liz for assistance with any VREC-related program: lizbutterfield.vrec@gmail.com
VREC Consultants
Professional Learning Consultant: BEV DAVIS
Bev has spent over 40 years in education, teaching various combinations of grades PreK-5. In addition to being a classroom teacher, she has been a literacy interventionist, literacy coach, curriculum director, and superintendent of schools. Bev has worked as a consultant for various school districts as well as for Student Achievement Partners. Bev currently contracts with VREC as a professional learning consultant.
Aspire-Imagine-Motivate(A.I.M.) Program Coordinator: MORGAN MOORE
Morgan lives in Barnet, VT. Morgan is the is the Director of Experiential Learning for Kingdom East School District. She enjoys biking, skiing, backpacking, and being outside with friends, family and students!
Consultant, Voices of Rural Vermont Teachers, Program Assessment, Thought Partner: EDITH BEATTY
After retiring from a 45-year career as an educator (teacher, director of special education, professor, director of learning design, superintendent), Edie created a full-time studio art practice. She has shown her work in galleries and art centers nationally from Seattle to Chicago to NYC, as well as here in New England.
As time passed, she missed the energy and intellect of teaching and learning and the people who make it happen. Working with John Castle and the staff of the VT Folklife Center, she helped create a “podcast lite” (narration of stories, with a little audio) capturing the voices of distinguished teachers and professionals who thrive at their work to foster student learning and development.
John and Edie are always thinking of ways to grow this work to promote positive stories of public education.
She recently worked with the VREC Community to update a program assessment, with an eye toward the collaborative’s continuous improvement.
Edie and her husband have lived in rural Vermont for 43 years, after moving here from rural Maine.
Advocacy and Community Schools: Jessica DeCarolis
VREC has contracted with Jess DeCarolis, former division leader at the Vermont Agency of Education, who led the initial implementation of the Community Schools grant program, to assist VREC SU/SDs in putting forward grant applications in the second round of funding.
VREC serves six of the 11 Vermont supervisory unions and districts awarded community schools grants. Through this program, they participate in the Catamount Community Schools Collaborative (CCSC)— a joint partnership with the University of Vermont and the Vermont Agency of Education.
Through her Ph.D. fellowship with the CCSC, Jessica coordinates regular community of practice meetings for participating member schools and partners with VREC and the Coalition to advocate for sustained state funding.
Jessica is actively engaged in partnering with VREC and the VT Community Schools Coalition in advocacy for continued state funding and support.
BOARD of DIRECTORS
2026-2027 Officers
Chair: Tim Mulligan Vice Chair: Jennifer Blay
Secretary: Jen Botzojorns Treasurer: Karen Conroy
At-Large: TIM MULLIGAN, Principal, Newark Street School
VREC Board Chair
Tim Mulligan, the Principal of the Newark Street School, optimizes student engagement by continually asking and exploring the question, “How do we (staff and students) end each day excited for school tomorrow?” Tim believes that learning occurs when all members of the school community are feeling good and having fun.
Tim has collaborated with community partners to creatively schedule and utilize resources to optimize learning opportunities for students.
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Newark’s Power Hour and Friday Exploratory Programs are key examples of how Tim has merged all members of the learning community to work side-by side as learning partners who become increasingly prepared to explore the world and take responsible action for Environmental Integrity, Social Equity, and Economic Prosperity while serving their community. Tim is continuing his own professional learning around the concept of Education for Sustainability.
In the mornings, evenings, and weekends, Tim loves engaging in outdoor recreation activities with friends and family. He is a five-time qualifier for the Half Ironman World Championships who believes that the emotional and physical roller coaster of endurance training and events prepare his body and mind for the challenges he will inevitably face in life.
At-Large: JENNIFER BLAY, Teacher, Lowell Graded School
VREC Board Vice Chair
Jennifer was born and raised in Newport, Vermont where she attended school in the district she now works in. She has always loved the Northeast Kingdom and chose to stay and raise her two children in Lowell, Vermont with her husband. She feels it is a gift to be part of a small town where everyone knows each other and cares for one another. She has felt called to serve her community, not just as an educator but also as a Little League coach, selectboard member, PTA chair, and Sunday school teacher.
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Jennifer is currently a Middle School Science Teacher for 6th through 8th graders at Lowell Graded School which is a rural school in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. She has been teaching for 20 years using a variety of endorsements from PreK, Elementary Education, Literacy Intervention and now most currently Middle School. She has Developed and implemented many Vermont Rural Education Collaborative and Missisquoi Watershed Basin Association grants. She has been a Speaker for the National Forum Advanced Rural Education for peer networking focusing on multi-year, community centered, student driven, stream restoration and stewardship project with collaborative efforts extending to the state level. She works hard to facilitate authentic opportunities for her students to engage in public speaking and works to create community impact with those same opportunities. These same beliefs of student centered work, place based learning, authentic community focused work in a rural place are what made her fall in love with and become such a passionate advocate for VREC as a board member. She most recently facilitated Professional Development with VREC for educators revolving around the theme of place based learning and VREC mini grants. The quote she most recently identifies with is “To walk into nature is to witness a thousand miracles.” by Mary Davis. With this in mind, she is in constant pursuit to educate by bringing the world into the classroom and making the community the learning environment by helping to make authentic connections for students in their communities and beyond.
At-Large: JENNIFER BOTZOJORNS
VREC Board Secretary
As a child, Jen's family farm was in Gilbertsville, New York, population 325. Her love of education, growing food, animals, and the forest stem from previous generations of foresters, teachers, and farmers. As a child she spent summers haying, building fences and connecting with the land. As a student, her bachelors and masters degrees focused on education and government. Her doctoral research looked at the importance of deliberative democracy in rural school districts. After serving in small or rural schools and districts for over 35 years as a math teacher, principal, curriculum coordinator, and superintendent, Jennifer now spends time consulting, pursuing various farm and forest projects, and supporting public education. Jen was named Vermont Superintendent of the Year in 2023 while serving at Kingdom East Supervisory District.
St. Johnsbury School District: KAREN CONROY, Superintendent
VREC Board Treasurer
Karen is the Superintendent of the St. Johnsbury School District in St. Johnsbury, VT. Karen shares VREC’s mission and advocates for rural schools and communities to learn, share, and thrive in these roles. Growing up in Aroostook County Maine, lovingly referred to as “The County” by locals, she experienced firsthand what it’s like to be raised in a rural area. She contributes her strong work ethic and values to the lessons she learned during the annual potato picking season, and cherishes the memories of her childhood in Northern Maine.
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After 20 years of working in the private sector, Karen took a nontraditional route into education. She began her career at a papermill in the field of technology. In this role, she cultivated her leadership and change management skills to empower her colleagues to embrace evolving technology changes. “I am a transformative leader. I embrace change as an opportunity for improvement. I understand that to grow, change and innovation are necessities.” Working with all facets of the organization in the private sector, Karen gained valuable experiences that contribute to her leadership style in education today.
As a self-described lifelong learner and advocate for children, it seems natural that Karen would eventually pursue a career in education. First, as a Technology Teacher and District Technology Coordinator, and eventually as an Assistant Superintendent and then Superintendent in Vermont. Karen joined VREC during her first year as Superintendent. “VREC provided a stronger voice to advocate for the needs of students and teachers in my rural small schools.” Karen was instrumental in the formation of the NEK Choice School District which includes 10 small rural communities that combined to strengthen their voice and options for education. “I used this challenge as an opportunity to advocate for equitable shared experiences for youth in this large geographical area.”
Karen resides in Bloomfield, Vermont with her husband. She has two grown children, and three granddaughters who also live in rural Essex County communities. She is dedicated to improving the quality of Vermont education for all children. “With not only my own grandchildren in mind, I am always working to ensure that all rural school children are provided with the same opportunities as larger schools, ensuring every student is successful and is provided what they need to thrive.” In her free time, you can find her spending time with her children and grandchildren and enjoying golf and camping with friends and family.
At-Large: MARGARET MACLEAN, retired educator
Margaret is an educator with 40 years of experience teaching in seven countries. She has taught at all grade levels from Pre-K to Grade 6, served as a school administrator in Vermont, worked as a professional development provider in numerous states for a national advocacy organization for rural schools, and consulted internationally in 30 countries with teachercollaboration.org.
Margaret is passionate about rural schools and the power of small schools to provide a high-quality education to rural children. A founding member of the Vermont Rural partnership Margaret has consistently advocated for excellence in rural schools, place-based learning and effective partnerships between schools and their communities. Margaret supported the development of VREC as a coalition of school districts working together to support schools and their communities and is proud to be a board member of this vital organization.
Orleans Central Supervisory Union: KYLE CHADBURN, Curriculum & Instruction Department's Access & Opportunities Coordinator
Having grown up in Irasburg and graduated from Lake Region Union High School, Kyle is a product of the Orleans Central Supervisory Union school system in which he has spent his entire career as an educator. He spent his first twelve years in education teaching middle level Humanities at Brownington Central School and Orleans Elementary School, before shifting to roles outside the classroom, first as a district coach and now as the Curriculum & Instruction Department's Access & Opportunities Coordinator. Kyle lives in Coventry with his wife, Sarah, and their two fur babies. In addition to his role with VREC, Kyle also serves the greater Vermont education community as President of the Vermont Association of Middle Level Education board and as a member of the national Association for Middle Level Education's Equity Committee.
Orange East Supervisory Union: KEN CADOW , Co-Principal Oxbow Union High School
Ken Cadow is a co-principal of Oxbow Union High School. His book, Gather, was a National Book Award Finalist, an American Library Association Printz Honor book, the winner of the 2024 Kirkus Prize, the Whippoorwill Prize for Rural Fiction for Young Adults, and the New England Book Award. Gather was the Vermont Reads book for the 2024-2025 Season. As an educator, Ken created and supported personalized learning programs for students for over twenty years. For this work, he was bestowed with the Vermont Champion of Education Award by the Vermont Agency of Education and the New England Consortium of Secondary Schools in 2017. He is a frequent speaker on issues of literacy, rural education, and educator training. He is the father of three remarkable adult children and lives in Pompanoosuc, Vermont, with his wife, Lisa, and their border collie, Quinn.
North Country Supervisory Union: SAMANTHA STEVENS, Community Schools Coordinator
Samantha is deeply committed to the well-being of families, rural vitality, and the pursuit of social justice. A proud product of Vermont's public education system—from kindergarten through graduate school—she is a fierce advocate for rural community schools, recognizing them as the essential backbone of the state’s economic and social structures.
Raised by parents who prioritized curiosity and always listened to and answered her questions, Samantha values Vermont’s unique culture of intellectual autonomy and social freedom. She and her husband returned to East Charleston to raise their own family, where they remain dedicated to the natural beauty, community spirit, and enduring strength of the Northeast Kingdom.
Kingdom East Supervisory Union: DESIREE HERTZ, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
Des moved from Philly to VT as a young child and fell in love with the mountains and forests of the NEK. While an undergrad in environmental studies at UVM, she interned at Shelburne Farms and discovered the joy of sharing her love of the natural world with children. Des brought this passion to her lifelong career as a VT educator through project and place based learning. Her students studied the streams around Burke Town School, hiked local mountains and became citizen activists in their local communities. Des is currently the Director of Curriculum at the Kingdom East School District where she encourages student engagement through meaningful learning experiences. She lives in Burke Hollow with her partner, a couple dogs and a medley of chickens. Des loves traveling, nordic skiing, and is a relatively new birder.
Essex North Supervisory Union: CHRIS MASSON, Occupational & Operational Support Specialist
Chris is an educational leader with over 25 years of experience in school administration, instructional leadership, and organizational management in Vermont public schools. He served as the Superintendent of the Essex North Supervisory Union and Canaan Schools from 2008 to 2025, directing district operations, budgeting, strategic planning, and building extensive community-wide collaborations. Prior to his superintendency, Christopher was the Principal of Canaan Schools and a science educator for more than a decade. Currently, he continues to support the district as a part-time
Deeply committed to experiential learning, Christopher developed and taught a two-year Career & Technical Education (CTE) program in Diversified Agriculture and Natural Resources at Canaan Schools, embedding college credits and leading hands-on initiatives like maple syrup production. A dedicated community advocate, he serves as the Committee Chairman for the Canaan Community Forest and as a Donor Advisor for the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund. Christopher holds a B.S. in Forest Biology from the University of Vermont and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Keene State College.
Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union: REBECCA TATISTCHEFF, Superintendent
Rebecca is an educational leader with more than two decades of experience supporting innovative school design, instructional leadership, and community-centered learning. Her work has focused on creating educational experiences rooted in project-based, place-based, and student-centered approaches that honor the strengths, cultures, and aspirations of the community schools she serves.
She holds a doctorate in School Leadership and Change from Teachers College, Columbia University, with a concentration in rural and place-based education. Throughout her career, Rebecca has partnered with educators, school systems, and organizations across the country to support meaningful change while remaining grounded in the belief that the best educational opportunities emerge through connection - connections among communities, families, educators, young people and places.
In Vermont, Rebecca has served as principal of Cabot School, one of the state's few remaining Pre-K–12 schools, as principal of U-32 Middle and High School in the Washington Central Unified Union School District, and is currently the Superintendent of Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union.
Caledonia Central Supervisory Union: SAMUEL MCLEOD, Principal, Barnet Elementary School
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO OUR LOCAL PARTNERS
VREC is actively developing partnerships on a local state and national level. Our partnerships are based on mutually developed goals and are built over time.
