LGM Program Day Reflection – Education Day 2026
A
phrase that I hear, and often say, every Leadership Greater Manchester class day is something like, “I drive by this place all the time and never knew it was this…“.
Beginning Education Day at the Emma B. French Hall exemplified that sentiment as it serves a monolith of Manchester’s proud educational history. In 1916, Emma B. French, a local art patron and social leader, commissioned the building stating its purpose as, “a place for lectures, concerts, art exhibits, film presentations and most importantly, learning at affordable cost to virtually anyone who wanted to take advantage of the school’s offerings” (Bagatta, J. 2023). I kept this notion with me as we continued through the day.
I want to give a loud shout out to Jillian Corey, Director of Career and College Pathway Development in the Manchester School District (MSD), who was our day planner and awesome leader as we explored what Education in Manchester had evolved into.
Our class spent the morning with Jillian, Joyce Lewis Director of Comprehensive School Counseling (MSD), Ben Dick, Manchester Memorial High School Principal, and Jenn Wilson, Language Access Coordinator (MSD).
We tackled questions about funding, school security, and how New Hampshire schools are part of community politics. We discussed the purpose of education in our volatile and uncertain world and honed in on an answer: education is about preparing young community members for life after school; whether that be further education, the workforce, armed forces, etc. This means creating prepared and successful graduates depends on the “for what” and not on a predetermined end.
After we established a baseline understanding of what Manchester education is like, we arrived at the Manchester School of Technology Career and Technical Education Center (MST). We received a warm welcome and broke off into student-led tour groups. Seeing skill and career-oriented classrooms firsthand was great exposure for me, after having attended prep-school in Manchester myself. After visiting the robust carpentry and building studio, I thought to myself: understanding why Interior Angles Theorem is true may not be as important to an aspiring carpenter and understanding how to effectively use a speed square – although the math is true for both.
A fabulous lunch was prepared for our class by MST culinary students, and we were able to share some time with the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jenifer Chmiel. We were given firsthand insight into how challenges are met by MSD at large and how community involvement helps at almost any level.
The afternoon moved into higher education in Manchester and the vast network the Regenerative Technology Hub (Regen Valley), of which University of New Hampshire is a key partner. We explored ideas about cultivating local workforce for varying skill level jobs, how can the business community support attracting talented workforce and what future jobs are going to look like in Manchester (most of which do not exist yet). We toured the complex Biotechnology Innovation Center (BIC labs), enjoyed a visit on the STEM-Mobile, and interacted with the CREATES lab. All these programs are ways that UNH bridges the gap for the future job demand. It was quite an eye-opening experience to see this high-caliber scientific community here in the mill district, not to mention how it collaborates with other private companies that make up ReGen Valley.
As we rounded out the day with some reflection conversations, I thought about what I had experienced today and how it affected me. I suppose I learned that education is not just a relationship between teachers and students, but rather a supporting relationship between the community and its future members. That support can look like volunteering, fundraising or donating for youth programs, getting active in local politics, educating yourself on your community’s education system, and simply getting involved.
SOURCES
“Let’s Save the Emma B. French Hall Building Dedicated to the City of Manchester Circa 1916.”
Manchester Ink Link, July 2023, manchester.inklink.news/lets-save-the-emma-b-french-hall-building-dedicated-to-the-city-of-manchester-circa-1916/
