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The Outstanding Young Alumni Award, established in 1986, is given for outstanding professional performance, achievements and leadership to those who have graduated in the last 25 years. Esther Kennedy earned her BSE in Social Studies/History in 1987 and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Science in Environmental Administration from Antioch Graduate School in 1990.
She began her career teaching Biology and a Gifted Marine Science program at Brunswick High School (Maine). In 1991 Kennedy took on a life-changing opportunity when she accepted a job educating at-risk students to help them get their GED while sailing on a tall ship at sea. This unique experience helped her recognize her aptitude for working with students with special needs. She completed course work at Notre Dame College (New Hampshire) and became a specialist in working with students with learning disabilities and students with emotional behaviors.
She finished her Administration certification at Notre Dame College and, in 1999, became Director of Student Services at the Gilford School District in Gilford, New Hampshire. Kennedy has sat on many New Hampshire state committees, including certification committees for special educators and Para educators, Federal Onsite Committee, Deaf and Hard of Hearing State-wide Task Force, Teacher Recruitment Task Force and reads many of the RFP’s for state grants. She is an Adjunct Professor for Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire where she teaches graduate classes in the field of Special Education and oversees student teachers.
In 2006 Kennedy received two distinguished honors. The first came from her peers in receiving Special Education Director of the Year from the Special Education Administrators Association in New Hampshire. The second honor was when she was named as the New Hampshire Special Education Director of the Year after being secretly nominated by her school district.
Kennedy resides in Portsmouth, New Hampshire where she is the owner/operator of Esther’s Marina and was recently given the honor of sitting on the New Hampshire Governors Advisory Committee for Marine Affairs. Her involvement in community organizations includes working with 4-H programs, running of Challenger’s Cup (provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to experience boating), and sitting on the Historical Strawberry Bank Education Committee. Esther attributes her success to having great mentors, many of whom have graduated from Mansfield.