Central Office Staff

Sherry Sousa

Superintendent

Sherry has dedicated her career to working with adolescents with disabilities. In her many capacities serving Mountain Views Supervisory Union, Sherry has focused on providing students with learning differences opportunities to grow and to remain in their home communities.  Under her leadership, the role of a MVSU special educator was reimagined as Learning Specialist - reducing the number of students receiving special education services from 17% to 11%.  She has co-authored three books on nonverbal learning disabilities and has presented throughout the Northeast on this topic.  For the last two years, Sherry has had the privilege of serving as MVSU’s Superintendent.  She has welcomed the opportunity to engage with an outstanding staff on behalf of her students and their communities. Sherry is committed to improving educational equity and sees literacy as a key component of that work.

Rayna Bishop - ext. 1080

Executive Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent,
District Central Registrar, and District Act 166 Coordinator

Rayna started her career with the district in 2007 as the Administrative Assistant of the Reading Elementary School, and joined the Central Office in 2014 as the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent. Her skills in organization and process development have enabled her to grow her role over the years to support the goals and initiatives of the district, state, and Agency of Education.

Rayna graduated from the Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst with a degree in Equine Management. She lives in Reading, VT, with her husband and two sons. Sharing their home permanently are three adorable rescued dogs, and they also take in temporary foster dogs to prepare them for their forever home. Rayna is a plant addict, and you’ll usually find her in her constantly expanding garden.

James Fenn - ext. 1089

Director of Finance and Operations

Jim joined the MVSU as the Director of Finance and Operations in July 2021. Prior to joining MVSU, Jim spent over 25 years in public and private schools in New Hampshire as the Director of Finance. Jim has a MBA in Business Administration and a Certification in School Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. Jim has been licensed as a school business administrator by the NH Department of Education since 1995. When not working, Jim enjoys his grandchildren, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, the coast of Maine, and fast cars.

Linda Loprete - ext. 1082

Director of Human Resources

In July 2021, Linda was appointed as the Director of Human Resources after serving 11 years as the HR, Payroll & Benefits Coordinator. As Director, she oversees all aspects of human resource management for employees and their dependents. The Human Resource department is responsible for EEO compliance, Licensing, Recruiting, Staffing, Classification and Compensation, Benefits Administration, Labor Relations, and Training.

Linda has worked in both the public sector in the Human Resource field and the private sector with Walmart Stores, Inc. for eight years. During her time at Walmart, she became a district and regional trainer for their personnel manager departments. Prior to working in HR, Linda was an executive administrative assistant for several years in the Rutland, VT area.

Linda has four grown children and nine awesome grandchildren. She especially enjoys attending their sporting and school events. With nine of them, it keeps her schedule quite full! But she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Sarah Walker - ext. 1084

District Accountant and Grants Manager

Sarah joined the Bridgewater Village School in 2008 as an Individual Aide, and transitioned to The Pomfret School in 2010 to take on the role of Administrative Assistant. She stayed with TPS through two mergers, first when the Bridgewater Village School and The Pomfret School joined to become The Prosper Valley School, and then again when the school district joined the Unified Union School District under Act 46. During her summers Sarah supported students as the SSOAK Administrative Assistant, before accepting the position of Payroll Associate at the Central Office in 2018. In the Spring of 2023 Sarah advanced into her current position as the District Accountant and Grants Manager.

Sarah is an avid crochetiere & knitter who loves spending time with her family and her dog, Boa.  She also enjoys early morning walks and spending time with friends.

Jennifer Conrad - ext. 1098

Payroll Associate & Accounts Payable Associate

Jennifer is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the fields of payroll and accounting. Her expertise and dedication have contributed to the success of numerous organizations throughout her career.

When Jennifer is not diligently working, she indulges in her passion for outdoor activities. Kayaking is one of her favorite pastimes, allowing her to connect with nature and find tranquility on the water. Jennifer also enjoys hunting.

However, Jennifer's true source of joy lies in spending quality time with her beloved family. Whether it's organizing memorable family gatherings, embarking on exciting adventures, or simply cherishing precious moments at home, Jennifer treasures the bond she shares with her loved ones.

Shayna Kalnitsky - ext. 1081

Director of Student Support Services

The product of teacher and principal parents in Southeastern Connecticut, Shayna is a 30 year veteran educator who graduated from Rutgers with a degree in psychology and Education. She joined the district in 2015 as a long term sub, and has been a classroom teacher, instructional coach, interventionist, and was part of the team who developed the virtual school during COVID.  Shayna is active in developing her expertise and networking through involvement with organizations such as The All Learners Network, The Center for Intensive Intervention, the American Institute for Research, The National Association for Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and the Vermont Mathematics Initiative. In 2019 she completed her Masters in Mathematics, Statistics, and Math Leadership at the University of Vermont.  Currently she is pursuing her studies to earn her principal and special education director certifications.  Shayna continues to be inspired by the wisdom of dedicated teachers and leaders who have been integral throughout her career.

Shayna shares her mountaintop home with the loves of her life: her partner Evan, her children Alex and David, and an adorable chocolate lab named Andy. Free time is typically spent in the garden, at the beach, being a silversmith creating jewelry, or enjoying concerts and museums.

Shelly Parker - ext. 1087

Administrative Assistant to the Director of Student Support Services

Shelly joined the MVSU as the Administrative Assistant for Student Support Services in 2011. She lives in Killington with her husband, daughter (when home from college), and rescue pets. When she's not working, Shelly enjoys reading, attempting to solve Sunday Times crosswords, and performing with her husband in their acoustic duo, Ruby Street.

Dr. Jennifer Stainton - ext 1006

Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

Dr. Jennifer Stainton graduated with a B.S. in Biology from The University of Richmond, a M.Ed. Secondary Science Education from George Mason University, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from The University of Vermont.  Jennifer’s professional and research interests in education include personalization, proficiency, project-based learning, experiential learning, science, and professional development. Jennifer received the Outstanding Dissertation Award in Educational Leadership from the University of Vermont in 2018, the Teacher of the Year award at Woodstock Union High School in 2017, the Edith D. Hendley Award for demonstrated excellence in research, scholarship, teaching, and dedicated service to women from the Women’s Resource Center at the University of Vermont in 2016, and the Vermont Outstanding Biology Teacher Award from the National Association of Biology Teachers in 2013.  She lives in Vermont with her twin daughters, two cats, and everyone’s favorite Golden Retriever, Sibley.

Joe Rigoli - ext. 1092

Director of Buildings and Grounds

Joe joined MVSU in July 2018 as District Buildings & Grounds Director. Before joining WCSU, Joe served as the Grounds Director at The Indian Mountain School in Lakeville CT. Joe holds a degree in Agricultural Sciences from SUNY Cobleskill and a degree in Agricultural Economics from Colorado State University. Joe spent 3 years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala working for the Guatemalan Ministry of Agriculture as a rural extension agent teaching improved agricultural techniques to local subsistence farmers. When not working, Joe can be found enjoying life with his wife Mary tending to their gardens and land while accompanied by their dog Molly and their trusted steeds Otis & Louie.

Gretchen Czaja - ext. 1123

Director of Food Service

Gretchen joined the MVSU in 2018 as Director of Food Service. She began her career with the district in 2004, as the Woodstock Elementary School and Bridgewater Village School Physical Education Teacher.  While working with students in the school gardens and leading farm to school efforts, she became interested in working to change the school food culture. In 2011, she became the WES Healthy Foods Educator & Provider, overseeing the school meal program while teaching health and nutrition education. In response to the district's need for a collaborative school meal program, Gretchen and a community advisory committee submitted a bid proposal for an independently operated program. After winning the bid, she became Director of Food Services, overseeing all aspects of the school meal program across the district. 

Gretchen graduated with a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology and Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of New Hampshire.  She lives in Woodstock with her two children, Ada, Micah and two cats, Sybil and Finney. When not working, she can be found coaching, gardening, or on the trail skiing or riding her bike.

Raphael Adamek - ext. 1088

Director of Technology and Innovation

Raphael joined the MVSU in 2014 as the Director of Instructional Technology. Raphael started his teaching career in a one room schoolhouse in rural western Colorado, before moving on to the Prospect Hill Academy Charter School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the Brattleboro Area Middle School in southern Vermont. Raphael has a Master’s degree in Education Policy & Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a Master of Public Health in Environmental Health from Boston University. He is interested in the ways that technology impacts teaching and learning, building equitable and efficient systems, and data science and visualization. When not working, Raphael can be found playing with his two children, working on house projects, or on an outdoor adventure.

Tydus Percy - ext. 1233

IT Specialist

Sarah Cook - ext. 1052

District Data Manager

Sarah joined the MVSU in April 2019 and helped the district transfer to a new student information system, which she now manages and trains others to use. Sarah earned a BA in American Studies from Grinnell College in Iowa and a certificate in nonprofit management from Northeastern University. One of the best parts of her job is collaborating with staff, parents, and students to solve their data and system tech needs. Sarah has lived in Vermont since 2014 on an experimental organic farm in Cavendish with her husband, twins, and a rotating cast of farm animals. Her favorite winter activity is snowshoeing out to the middle of a local pond and listening to the slow creaking of the ice.