Mike Cuddyer
Experienced educator who will bring a love of learning, sense of caring, and a focus on personal growth to a school community
Experienced educator who will bring a love of learning, sense of caring, and a focus on personal growth to a school community
Thanks for visiting my website. I created this site with the intention of having a way to give you a broader understanding of who I am beyond my resume. I hope it does that.
Before becoming a teacher I spent most of my life teaching martial arts, which is where I found a love of teaching. That led me on a few different paths, but eventually it brought me to the classroom which is where I've spent nearly ten years.
I now live in Londonderry with my wife, Tarsha, and our Golden Retriever, Maverick. He's a certified therapy dog who loves kids. One of his favorite things to do is visit school with me and spend time with students.
In my spare time I love being outdoors, especially hiking and camping. I also love writing and reading and try to do at least a bit of both daily.
Before becoming a teacher I was fortunate to have had a lot of life experience. This included serving in the National Guard, ghostwriting books about bully prevention, sales and marketing consulting, managing and owning martial arts schools, and more. All of these experiences have shaped me into the person I am today and taught me many valuable skills along the way.
Today I am happy to say that those skills led me to a wonderful career as a classroom teacher. For nearly ten years I have been in the classroom, and I have loved every minute of it. However, I knew early on that as much as I love teaching I was drawn to administration. There are many reasons why, but it can be summed up with advice that an administrator for whom I have tremendous respect gave me. He said that if I really want to affect an entire school for the better, the best way I can do that is as an administrator. That’s a role I’m excited to step into now.
Throughout my teaching career I have always gravitated toward the principles of student voice and choice as the cornerstone of effective learning. I believe that empowering students to make choices in their education and finding opportunities to do so not only enhances their sense of agency but also nurtures a passion for learning. This philosophy is rooted in the idea that true achievement goes beyond traditional measures of success, emphasizing the importance of personal growth, resilience, and the pursuit of individual potential.
As I seek a leadership role, I envision applying these principles on a broader scale. My philosophy revolves around creating a school culture that celebrates each student's unique journey, prioritizing not only academic accomplishments but also the development of essential life skills. With a focus on personal victory and the actualization of potential, I hope to inspire both students and colleagues alike in the pursuit of educational excellence.
Since going back to school to become a teacher I have continued to focus on bettering myself through education, and have maintained a consistent 4.0 GPA throughout all of my programs. I began my educational journey with an Associate’s Degree in Writing from Northern Essex Community College in 2013. I then continued on with a Bachelor’s in English from Granite State College in 2015. From there, I received my teaching certification in English 5-12 as well as a MEd in English Education from Plymouth State University in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Finally, a CAGS in Educational Leadership with a principal certification from Southern New Hampshire University with a conferral in February, 2024. Looking ahead, I plan to choose a PhD or EdD program to continue learning and growing.
I began my professional teaching career in the Derry School District. Although most of my coursework was geared toward a career as a high school teacher, I wanted to broaden the scope of my experience and sought a student teaching assignment in a middle school. As a student teacher at Gilbert H. Hood Middle School I learned many lessons and formed many friendships and connections that I still have today.
At the end of my student teaching experience I interviewed for and was offered a job as a sixth grade English teacher at West Running Brook Middle School. During my time there I learned a lot from coworkers and administrators, and it’s where I was able to find comfort in who I was as a teacher.
Due to a reduction in force in the middle schools, I was offered a position as a fifth grade teacher at Ernest P. Barka Elementary School. Working in an elementary school gave me a new perspective and a valuable understanding of what elementary teachers do, as well as a better understanding about the transition between grade levels and buildings.
When further reductions were a possibility in Derry I accepted a position as an eighth grade English teacher at Londonderry Middle School. Over the last five years I have been fortunate to learn and grow in many ways. I have been a part of creating summer literacy programs, worked to revamp summer school programs, volunteered as a member of numerous committees including Social Emotional Learning and Curriculum and Instruction, and more. I consider myself extremely fortunate to be a part of this school, and my time here has made me a better teacher and leader.
In my time as a classroom teacher I have always tried to find opportunities to grow professionally as well as help the school and its students. In Derry I created a Writing Club, which continued after I left and still has healthy participation. I also joined the Competency Based Education Committee at its formation as a teacher leader, and contributed regularly as Derry began transitioning toward a CBE model. Additionally, I was a part of the ELA Summer Curriculum Committee where we worked with Pinkerton Academy to align grades six through twelve in the district.
In Londonderry I continued seeking opportunities to simultaneously grow professionally and help the school. With a fellow teacher I began a summer literacy program to help students bridge the literacy gap between June and August. I also taught summer school, and am involved in an effort to revamp our summer programs. I was a part of the Social Emotional Learning Committee that was formed to help the school meet the challenges of providing quality SEL resources to staff and students. I am currently serving on the Curriculum and Instruction Committee, where we have already streamlined report card comments and are continuing work to help the school. I run a morning Academic Intervention Protocol program for struggling students at all grade levels. Finally, I have guided new teachers as a district mentor in order to help them acclimate to the school and be successful in their role.
I hope this has given you more of an idea of who I am beyond the information on my resume. I have loved my time in the classroom, but I’m truly excited to move into an administrative role. If you think that my background, experience, and philosophy align with the vision you have for your school I’d love to connect and discuss next steps with you.
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