SAU 21 Leadership Team

Meredith Nadeau, Ed.D.
Superintendent

Meredith Nadeau has worked in public education for over 25 years and has served in a number of capacities in New Hampshire schools including middle school English teacher, special education teacher, assistant principal, principal, Director of Student Services, and Director of Instruction.  Prior to joining SAU 21, she served as the Superintendent of Schools in SAU #13, Newmarket, and in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.  

Meredith serves on the Governing Board of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) and is a graduate of their National Superintendent Certification Program.  She was also selected to participate in AASA's National Women's Leadership Cohort in 2019.  Meredith is a long-time member of the Horace Mann League and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) and has presented nationally at conferences for ASCD and AASA.  Meredith has worked with the College Board in multiple roles since 2012 including the New England Regional Council, Superintendent's Advisory Council, and National Academic Assembly.  She currently serves as an elected College Board Trustee representing New England and is on the Board of Directors for the New England Staff Development Council (NESDEC).

Meredith was born and raised in New Hampshire and graduated from Merrimack Valley High School.  She holds a B.A. in English from Bowdoin College, an M.Ed. in Special Education and CAGS in Educational Leadership and Supervision from the University of New Hampshire, and an Ed.D. from Boston University. Meredith, her husband, and their two daughters are residents of Lee.

Mary A. Toomey, Ed.D
Assistant Superintendent of Student Services

Beginning in July 2022, Dr. Toomey joins SAU21 as a career educator, principal, and district administrator from Massachusetts. Most recently, Dr. Toomey served as the Assistant Superintendent for Lawrence Public Schools supporting Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for six years before facilitating a redesign for the Office of Student Support Services in 2019. As a former Special Education Teacher and Evaluation Team Facilitator, Dr. Toomey gained valuable experience serving the needs of students identified with exceptional needs. Dr. Toomey has also completed assignments as an adjunct faculty member in the area of Special Education for Salem State University, Simmons College, and American International College.

Dr. Toomey holds a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education and Elementary Education from Rivier College, where she also completed a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership. Dr. Toomey earned a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies from Salem State University with a concentration in Leadership and Innovative Practices. In 2009, Dr. Toomey completed a Doctorate of Education degree in Instructional Leadership at Nova Southeastern University. She has continued to promote and support a philosophy of continuous professional learning for herself and her colleagues.

Dr. Toomey is a strong advocate for students and their families. She holds high expectations to ensure strong academic achievement for all learners through systemic and meaningful professional learning, a focus on improving instructional practice, and a commitment to ensuring the learning environment necessary for promoting 21st century knowledge and innovation skills, including creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and collaboration.

Shayleen Cassily, Ph.D
Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment

Dr. Shay Cassily joins SAU 21 with over 30 years of experience working and volunteering in NH public schools. She first began her career as a middle and high school English teacher in Litchfield, NH, where she served on various district-wide curriculum committees. Subsequently, Shay served as a professor of education and the Director of Field Experience at the University of New Hampshire. While at UNH, Shay supervised elementary and secondary interns in many of the NH Seacoast schools. Shay’s most recent tenure has been in the Alton and Barnstead communities where she served as both Curriculum Director and Director of Teaching and Learning. In all of these roles, Shay considers herself fortunate to have had the opportunity to work closely with students, teachers, and parents to create supportive and engaging learning environments.

Shay holds both a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Education degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She received her Doctorate of Education in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from the University of New Hampshire. Shay’s research interests include the history and structure of public education, teacher burnout, and educational accountability. She has presented her work at regional and national conferences, including the American Educational Research Association.

After raising their children in Rye, NH, Shay and her husband have recently relocated to York, Maine. There they spend long hours hiking with their two dogs and playing pickleball.