Little Harbour School Wins Prestigious Best Buddies Award
Portsmouth, NH – From July 18–21, 2025, more than 2,500 student leaders, volunteers, and disability advocates from across the globe gathered at Indiana University for the annual Best Buddies International Leadership Conference.
In a proud moment for New Hampshire, Little Harbour Elementary School in Portsmouth earned the 2025 Overall Outstanding Chapter Award — the highest honor for Best Buddies elementary programs worldwide.
Chosen from hundreds of chapters internationally, Little Harbour’s recognition celebrates its exceptional commitment to inclusion, friendship, and advocacy for individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Conference Theme: “Wickedly Inclusive”
The 2025 conference embraced a “Wickedly Inclusive” theme, infusing the weekend with dynamic energy and celebrations of diversity. Attendees engaged in leadership workshops, heard inspiring testimonies, learned from global disability rights leaders, and enjoyed motivational performances.
Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies International is a trailblazing nonprofit creating opportunities for one-to-one friendships, inclusive employment, leadership training, independent living, and family support for people with IDD.
Little Harbour’s chapter, established in 2021, is led by dedicated staff advisors Kristen Heath, Nicole Fragala, and Britt SantaMaria, and currently involves 30 active participants. Best Buddies New Hampshire now operates 40 chapters across schools and colleges statewide.
Kittery School District Names Josie Chadbourne as Director of Special Services
Kittery, Maine – The Kittery School District has officially appointed Josie Chadbourne as its next Director of Special Services, effective August 1, 2025. She will succeed Joe Bassett, who will transition to Interim Assistant Principal at Mitchell School for the 2025–2026 academic year.
Following a rigorous selection process involving staff, families, community members, and district leaders, the Kittery School Committee voted unanimously to approve Chadbourne’s appointment.
Strong Leadership Background
Interim Superintendent JoAnne Dowd praised Chadbourne’s appointment, noting her 20 years of expertise in special education and her readiness to meet the district’s current needs.
Chadbourne holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern Maine (USM) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of New Hampshire (UNH). A lifelong resident of North Berwick, Maine, she enjoys gardening, summer beach days, and winter snowmobiling with her family.
Most recently, she served as Principal of Mary Hurd School, a specialized program for grades 7–12 students with behavioral and emotional challenges. She has also coached Varsity Field Hockey at Noble High School for 16 years and actively supports youth sports for students in grades K–6.
A Vision for the Future
“I am thrilled to join the Kittery School District in this leadership role,” Chadbourne said. “I look forward to contributing meaningfully to our schools and community.”
With approximately 1,000 students, the Kittery School District anticipates Chadbourne’s deep expertise will continue driving innovation and success in its learning environment.
