Concord’s new assistant superintendent may be new to the administrative team, but her connection to Concord goes back decades.
The Concord School Board voted unanimously Monday to approve the hiring of Kimberly Yarlott to be assistant superintendent for Concord schools, starting in July.
Yarlott, who is currently an assistant superintendent in the Merrimack School District, will fill the position that was vacated by former Concord assistant superintendent Donna Palley, who retired in 2021.
Yarlott was a teacher in the Concord School District for 16 years where she taught Pre-K to third grade at Beaver Meadow School starting in 1989.
In 2005, Yarlott left to become the assistant principal of Reeds Ferry School in the Merrimack School District and eventually moved up to become principal in 2009. In 2017, Yarlott was named New Hampshire Elementary Principal of the Year by the NH Association of School Principals and was also named a Nationally Distinguished Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. She became assistant superintendent for curriculum, assessment and instruction in the Merrimack School District in 2021.
In a phone interview Tuesday, Yarlott said she has a strong attachment to the Concord School District because of her memories of being a teacher here and having two sons attend school in the district.
“I’ve given 17 years to Merrimack and now I’m looking forward to going back to Concord,” Yarlott said. “It’ll be hard to leave Merrimack, but I do have a strong affinity to Concord.”
At the board meeting, several members of the hiring committee spoke highly of Yarlott.
“She brings knowledge and experience and energy to our district that I think will be very beneficial for students and staff alike,” said school board member Brenda Hastings, who was on the hiring committee.
Board member Barb Higgins concurred.
“She’s very dedicated to Concord. She’s very attached to this community, which is nice,” Higgins said.
Yarlott will begin work July 1.