Chali Davis, Principal of Milford High School & Applied Technology Center, rose to the challenge of remote learning last spring. She spent countless hours making sure her students were able to learn from home and receive the support they needed, including access to computers and the Internet, and social emotional support. Davis also established grading practices to ensure grades and report cards took the extraordinary circumstances into account. She developed uplifting parent newsletters and created the “Quarantine Chronicles” for students, which included daily videos from the staff, recipes, and senior and sport spotlights to help the students stay connected with the school community during a time of isolation. Additionally, Davis created a staff website so her team could easily navigate the overwhelming amount of information they received. The class of 2020 missed out on many spring traditions, but Davis went to great lengths to give the seniors not one, but two memorable graduation events: an in-person graduation with the three separate ceremonies to allow for social distancing and a senior parade followed by a pre-recorded ceremony shown at the Milford Drive-In Theater. However, Davis insists that no one accomplishes these tasks alone, and she is proud of the secretaries, community partners, staff, and administrative team that worked alongside her to accomplish the impossible. 

Her dedication to teachers, students and community members did not waver when in-person classes resumed in the fall. Davis provided ongoing support to faculty and staff facing new challenges and countless other stressors. She worked with first responders and school healthcare officials to create safety protocols to mitigate the risk of exposure at school. Davis sees this as an extension of her efforts to build strong relationships between the school and the community. In honor of her dedication to helping her students, faculty and teachers, Alene Candles donated $1,000 to SHARE Outreach, a central point of assistance for those needing help in the community.

Sandy Lafleur, formerly the Nursing Assistant at the Milford High School and Applied Technology Center, did not rest when remote learning began in March. She sewed more than 200 face masks, giving many away to faculty and staff members at the high school. Lafleur also organized two “bucks for bags” fundraisers. The first saw the Milford School District Nursing Department pick-up roadside trash, raising more than $3,000 for SHARE Outreach. For the second fundraiser, Lafleur picked-up roadside trash on her own and raised $1,400 for Baby Steps Family Assistance in Claremont. Lafleur has since left her job as a nursing assistant after 27 years to become an end of life doula in Wilton, providing care and dignity to those going through the most difficult stage of life. To recognize Lafleur’s numerous contributions, Alene Candles donated $1,000 to the New Hampshire Food Bank.