Hampton Elementary School is excited to begin the 2025–26 school year with a strong team and a clear plan. In keeping with our school theme, Rooted in Tradition, Branching to the Future, we are investing in the people and programs that help every child grow. Please accept a sincere thank you to our town for supporting our budget this year. We are dedicated to the students and families in our community.
As principal of Hampton Elementary, I am proud of the strong tradition of community and care that defines our school. This year, I am especially excited about the ways we are expanding opportunities for students, focusing on the whole child — whether through targeted support in academics, new avenues for creative expression, or deeper connections with our town. I invite families, neighbors, and community members to be part of our work this year. We succeed best when we do it together.
I am excited to introduce our new staff members to the HES team. Our students and community benefit when caring adults and strong instruction come together! We are continuing our focused work in academics, climate and community, and enrichment.
Meet Our New Team Members:
Director of Special Education, Mary Jo Chretien, is coming to Hampton with extensive experience in special education, both as an administrator and a speech language pathologist. Mrs. Chretien has served as the director of pupil services in Pomfret and Eastford and has experience providing professional development to other administrators in CT and experience at the University level as an adjunct professor and as a clinical supervisor.
Speech-Language Pathologist: Laurissa Rodzen has recently worked in Killingly Public Schools and has worked with students from Preschool age through transition age students. Mrs. Rodzen has experience teaching other providers about Augmentative and Alternative Communication and background in advocating for students with disabilities for public policy.
Full-Time Interventionist: Mariann LaPointe, who many families will know as she served as our reading and math interventionist as our long term substitute last year. Mrs. Lapointe is a veteran teacher with experience at multiple grade levels as well as experience providing intervention in Killingly Public Schools.
Paraeducator: Madison Palmerino has a degree in music education and currently services at the Complex Performing and Creative Arts Center in Putnam. Hampton families can see Ms. Palmerino’s work at the end of October where she is producing the production of Rent at the Bradley Playhouse.
Paraeducator: Louise Edwards is a new Hampton resident in the past year. We are lucky to also have her volunteering for the Fletcher Memorial Library as a member of the board. Mrs. Edwards has extensive experience in child development and is passionate about parent coaching. She works to support parents through coaching sessions to identify areas of need to improve parent and child relationships.
Physical Therapist: Anne Marie Ferron has extensive school-based experience in northeastern CT. We are fortunate to have her working with us through a contract with another local district, a practice encouraged by the state to provide quality services with fiscal responsibility. Besides her professional background, Dr. Ferron shares that she is a mother of two children, an 11-year-old boy and 8- year-old girl and that her interests include country music and her pet dog and bearded dragon.
Our Work This Year
We organize our improvement efforts around ACE—Academic achievement, Climate and community, and Enrichment and engagement, all of which we will detail in the next issue of The Hampton Gazette.
Victoria Smith, Principal, Hampton Elementary School