On July 1, 2017, Christopher N. Motika began his tenure as the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for SAU53. Mr. Motika has served the students of New Hampshire for the past 12 years as a teacher and leader. His journey as a public school educator began in his hometown of Nashua where Mr. Motika taught middle school English. While deeply engaged in the use of innovative practices in his own classroom, Mr. Motika continued his education and obtained his Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Southern New Hampshire University in 2007. In 2008, he completed post-graduate coursework and an internship through Rivier University and received his principal certification. That summer Mr. Motika took on a new role as an Assistant Principal at Nashua High School North. He served in that capacity for five years where he was deeply committed to supporting students as they transitioned from middle to high school.
In 2013, Mr. Motika was named Principal of Manchester High School West, where he proudly served the students, faculty, and community for three years. During his tenure, Mr. Motika led work to reduce the drop-out rate by nearly 50%, increase enrollment in Advanced Placement courses, undergo the NEASC Accreditation self-study and decennial visit, and began the STEAM Ahead academy. STEAM Ahead received local and national attention as an innovative educational program with a teamed approach to project based hands-on learning in a heterogeneous setting. After three years of implementation, students in the program scored higher on the PSAT and SAT, had higher Grade Point Averages, averaged 98% daily attendance, and had significantly fewer disciplinary infractions than their non-STEAM counterparts. Mr. Motika is so proud to have served the West community and lead their school turn-around efforts.
Most recently, Mr. Motika was the Administrator for the Bureau of Integrated Programs at the New Hampshire Department of Education. In this role, he served as the State’s Title I Director and had direct oversight of all Federal Title programs. His work included drafting the State’s response to the new Federal education law, the Every Student Succeeds Act. He also worked closely with superintendents and principals around the state in order to reduce redundancy and create efficiencies within the Federal Title programs. Due to his strong desire to work more closely with teachers, principals, and students Mr. Motika has now returned to the local level to support teaching and learning in SAU 53.
Mr. Motika has taught various Curriculum and Instruction courses at the graduate level, has supported K-12 teachers in Nashua and Manchester through site based Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment workshops, and is eager to share his skills and experiences with the teachers and leaders of SAU53.
