Mountain Views Supervisory Union (MVSU) has narrowed the field to two finalists fo rthe position of principal for Woodstock Union Middle and High School. After a community-informed search process, the district gathered an interview committee composed of students, teachers, a parent, a school board member, and administrators. The committee then recommended two highly qualified candidates who demonstrate a strong commitment to education, leadership, and student success.
The two finalists are: Aaron Cinquemani, Ed. D. currently the interim principal at the Woodstock Union High School Middle School; and Kendra Rickerby, Ph. D. currently the head of school at the Compass School, an independent school serving grades 7-12 in Westminster, Vermont.
As part of the selection process, MVSU hosted a day of community engagement opportunities last Wednesday, Jan. 8, where parents, students, and staff can meet the finalists, ask questions, and share their thoughts. From 12:45-1:50 p.m. a diverse group of students met the candidates and provided feedback. From 2:30-4 p.m. a group of faculty and staff met the candidates. Then from 5-6:45 p.m. parents and community members were encouraged to attend and participate and get to know the finalists and provide feedback.
Following those community engagement opportunities, the Interview Committee will be reviewing feedback from all stakeholders and plans to make a final recommendation to the Superintendent. A decision is expected to be made by mid-January, according to a news release by MVSU.
Candidate: Aaron Cinquemani
Dr. Aaron J. Cinquemani is a passionate and student-centered leader dedicated to fostering adolescent growth and development. Currently serving as the Interim Principal at Woodstock Union High School and Middle School (WUHSMS), Dr. Cinquemani is a finalist for the permanent principal position. His leadership philosophy is grounded in leveraging the human phenomenon of ambivalence—recognizing diverse perspectives to foster collaboration, accountability, and progress.
Dr. Cinquemani began his career in education as a classroom paraprofessional before becoming a middle school teacher. Over the years, he has served as a principal across preK to 12 levels, bringing a breadth of experience to his role. Since stepping into the interim position at WUHSMS, Dr. Cinquemani has made it a priority to learn the names, interests, and experiences of students, ensuring their voices guide his leadership.
A skilled communicator, he is described as “a remarkable communicator, adept at clearly conveying expectations to faculty and staff,” fostering transparency and trust within the school community. His strategic mindset and follow-through have been integral to evaluating and improving programs, while his presence in hallways and classrooms demonstrates his commitment to fostering a positive school culture.
Dr. Cinquemani’s expertise extends to refining the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and ensuring that all students receive the targeted support, resources and enrichment they need. He consistently engages meaningfully with stakeholders, respecting and addressing concerns while upholding high standards of professionalism. Dr. Cinquemani’s leadership reflects a deep care for students, a collaborative approach, and a clear vision for student-centered education.
Candidate: Kendra Rickerby
Kendra Rickerby has most recently been the head of school at two independent schools in this region of Vermont. Since 2020, she has been an adjunct professor in the graduate education programs at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire. For SNHU’s doctorate program, she teaches social entrepreneur leadership, organizations and positive social change, in addition to serving as chair of dissertation committees. Her research and teaching interests focus on social entrepreneurial leadership strategies, cost-efficient education funding models, equitable systems design as well as learner-centered and community-based school organizational design.
Rickerby’s pursuit of a PhD in educational leadership came after a decade of teaching English language arts at public high schools near Burlington. She often co-taught with a special educator and social studies teacher. After a few years observing the impact smartphones were having in traditional classrooms, she set out to learn how to lead the process of redesigning school cultures to meet the needs of the 21st Century.
Rickerby is passionate about leading service-learning opportunities both close to home here in Vermont and abroad. She credits her college semester abroad in Nepal with the School for International Training as being the most influential educational experience in her professional trajectory. Passionate about learning from new perspectives, she is an avid reader as well as audience member of the performing arts. Rickerby is enthusiastic about everything that gets her outdoors and into nature.
