Reaching Higher NH

Nicole Heimarck

Nicole has extensive experience as a leader in educational policy and a track record of implementing large-scale education transformations through national, state and local collaborations. She also has practical experience in public education ranging from Pre-K through post-secondary learning. Her previous roles include Director of Government Relations with the NH School Boards Association, Bureau Administrator in Education Preparation for the NH Department of Education, and Director of Curriculum and Professional Development for SAU 39: Amherst, Mont Vernon and Souhegan school districts. In 2019, she joined Reaching Higher NH to serve as Director of the NH Alliance for College and Career Readiness. In 2020, she moved into the role of Executive Director for Reaching Higher.

Nicole received her Bachelor of Arts in History and Education from Stonehill College in North Easton, MA, a Master of Arts in Education Leadership from the University of New Hampshire, Durham, and has her Certification as a Critical Friends Group Coach by the School Reform Initiative. She is a resident of Amherst.

Alexandra Tilsley

Director of Policy

Our Team

Alexandra Tilsley joined Reaching Higher in 2025 as the Director of Policy. In that role, she sets the organization's policy priorities and works to provide decisionmakers and the public with the research and analysis they need to advance policies that strengthen our public schools.

Alexandra grew up in Mont Vernon and Londonderry, and attended a mix of public and private schools. After graduating from the University of Southern California, she began her career with the NYC Leadership Academy, an organization supporting public school principals, before joining the Urban Institute, a DC-based social policy research organization. At Urban, Alexandra helped to launch the Center on Education Data and Policy and was part of the startup team for the DC Education Research Practice Partnership. Most recently, she served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Impact and External Affairs, working across research, communications, and development to connect research to policy decisions and people's lives.

Alexandra lives in Concord, and when she's not in the office, she can almost certainly be found in the woods, regardless of the season.

Kelly Untiet

Director of Public Relations

Our Team

As Director of Public Relations, Kelly leads the organization’s key strategic communication initiatives, ensuring they continually uphold and advance Reaching Higher’s organizational values, policy priorities, and the real needs of students, educators, and community members.

Kelly grew up in Franklin and attended Regis College in Weston, MA. Throughout her career, which has spanned government, non-profit, and for-profit organizations, Kelly has remained committed to the idea that innovation, communication, and collaboration are the keys to success.

Prior to Reaching Higher, Kelly served as Director of Development and Community Relations at CATCH Neighborhood Housing, Community Engagement Manager with the Unite Us in NH coordinated care network and as the Administrator of the Office of Social and Emotional Wellness within the NH Department of Education assisting in the statewide expansion of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support for Behavioral Health and Wellness (MTSS-B), Trauma Responsive School initiatives, and prevention efforts focused on bullying, substance use, and suicide.

Kelly lives in Alexandria, New Hampshire with her husband and two young children.

Misty Crompton

Chair

Board of Directors

Misty Crompton is a dedicated grade 7 social studies teacher of 22 years who lives with her family in New Boston, NH. As a middle school educator in Derry she has served in many additional roles over the years including Team Leader, History Club advisor, Junior Oratorical organizer and Podcast Club leader.

Heidi Crumrine

Vice Chair

Board of Directors

Heidi Crumrine is an English and reading teacher at Concord High School. She has been teaching for 19 years, including three years in the New York City Public Schools. She is the 2018 NH Teacher of the Year. She has a B.S. from the University of New Hampshire, an M.A.T. in English education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an M.Ed. in reading instruction from Grand Canyon University.

James Mitkonis

Treasurer

Board of Directors

James Mitkonis is a Senior Manager at Nathan Wechsler & Co., specializing in nonprofits. James has a B.S. in Business Administration and M.S. in Accounting from the University of New Hampshire and is a licensed CPA in New Hampshire. James currently lives in New Boston with his wife and twin boys.

Doug Cullen

Board of Directors

After 20 years in the Education industry in New Hampshire, 15 years spearheading career and workforce development functions at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, New Hampshire as the Manager of Career Services, Cullen is now guiding the Apprenticeship and Workforce Development efforts for two separate professional associations: Manager of Workforce Development for the New Hampshire Timber Owners Association (NHTOA) and Manager of Apprenticeships/IBuild Initiatives for Associated Builders and Contractors of New Hampshire/Vermont.

Paul Leather

Board of Directors

Paul Leather is the Partner for Policy and Local and State Partnerships for the Center of Innovation in Education, C!E, and directs the Interstate Learning Community, in collaboration with the State Performance Assessment Learning Community sponsored by LPI, addressing design and implementation issues related to instructionally relevant assessment systems at local and state levels.

Robin Melone

Board of Directors

Robin Melone is a New Hampshire attorney at Pastori | Krans. She is respected for her litigation, negotiation, advocacy and compassion. She dedicates much of her time to supporting educational institutions as an external investigator, trainer, and advisor on issues related to Title IX and student and employee conduct.

Pawn Nitichan

Emeritus Members

Pawn Nitichan is the Executive Director of City Year New Hampshire and a Vice President of City Year Inc. With Nitichan’s leadership and her commitment to helping students, corps members, and staff succeed, City Year New Hampshire has more than tripled its service capacity and developed a widely recognized culture of idealism.

Tom Rath

Emeritus Members

Tom Rath is one of the most notable Republican strategists and advisers in the state. Tom served as the Chairman of the election campaigns of New Hampshire’s former U.S. Senators, Warren Rudman, and Judd Gregg and he actively assisted in the U.S. Senate process that confirmed David Souter as Supreme Court Justice.

Adam Ruedig

Emeritus Members

Adam Ruedig is a financial advisor with The Ruedig Group at UBS in Concord and Portsmouth, Prior to his career as a financial advisor Adam worked as an architect in New York and Boston. In addition to the Reaching Higher NH board, Adam serves on the Board of the Portsmouth Housing Authority.