Greetings from Dr. Martha Dubuque

Principal for Instruction, Curriculum, and Assessment

I am honored to be part of the St. Johnsbury School Community.  As I talk with teachers, paras, and parents, I sense a strong commitment to helping students grow and succeed.  We can be proud of our school in many ways, and it is so exciting to be part of the very important work of helping St. Johnsbury’s children learn.  These are priorities for our work over time as we continually move toward educational excellence.

• Use research-based effective instructional strategies so all students can access learning.
• Use intervention strategies to address each student’s needs.
• Continually use student data to inform and differentiate instruction.
• Increase nonfiction reading and writing.  Embed writing across the curriculum.
• Improve school climate and discipline.
• Build a culture of professional collaboration and teamwork.
• Maintain effective communication among staff.
• Promote family and community engagement.
• Strengthen science instruction across the grades.

I warmly invite you to visit our school – your school.  Do you have interests or talents you would like to share with students?  Please let me know, for that is such a benefit to our school community.  As the year progresses, if you have ideas about how our school can continually improve, please talk with me, for it is by working together that we help each student achieve his/her full potential.

I choose to be a part of the St. Johnsbury School community because I am passionate about learning, teaching, creating rich, rigorous experiences for students, and helping to build a climate of inquiry, reflection, and respect for all learners, both students and adults.  Home-school-community partnership is essential to the growth of any professional learning community, so listening to your ideas and questions as parents and community members then considering that input in facilitating our school’s growth is very important to me.

I live in Walden with my husband, Gary.  My two children, Nicholas and Andrew, are grown with families of their own.  I will always feel that being a mother has been such a special blessing, for my two sons are wonderful treasures.  I have worked in education for several years, as a teacher, curriculum coordinator, teacher mentor, consultant, adjunct college professor, professional development leader for teachers, and principal.  I truly love what I do, and working on behalf of children is such a privilege.  In my spare time I enjoy walking, swimming, cooking, reading, spending time with friends, relaxing on my back deck in sunny weather, and furthering my own learning.

“The purpose of life is to discover your gift.

The meaning of life is to give it away.”

(Unknown source)