Cole Chandler
Cole is in his second term as a Gray member of the Board and serves on the Personnel and Facilities committees. Cole is an Aroostook County native, but has lived in Gray since 2014 with his wife and two children. His two children are currently a freshman and a senior at GNGHS. Cole previously served on the Gray Comprehensive Committee. Cole has a strong commitment to accountability, safety and security.
Cole recognizes the pride within the Gray-New Gloucester community and believes the school district is the heart of it. He not only believes in expanded educational opportunities, but he also understands the importance of teaching students the basics in life.
Term Expires 2025
Email: cdchandler@sad15.org
Penny Collins(Chair)
Penny is in her first term as a New Gloucester member of the Board and serves as the Board Chair as well as a voting member of Personnel and Policy committees. She is a dedicated Mainer and has lived in New Gloucester for twenty years. She lives with her husband, two children, and two dogs. Penny has her bachelor’s in communications and a Master of Social Work, both completed at Maine state universities. Penny spent a decade in Human Resources and corporate communications before getting her master’s degree, at which time she dedicated another ten years to serving Maine women and children as clinical social worker.
She has served on the Board of Directors for Portland NAMI, Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences, and Cumberland County Children’s Theater. In her free time, Penny likes to garden, mountain bike, hike, ski, and read. She takes particular pride in the accomplishments of SAD15 students, and loves to attend sports events, performing arts shows, graduation, and any events where these outstanding kids have a chance to shine.
Term Expires 2025
Email: pcollins@sad15.org
Misty Coolidge
Misty is in her second term as a New Gloucester member of the Board and serves on the Facilities and Curriculum committees. She feels honored to have been elected into this role serving her community. Misty and her husband, Peter, reside in New Gloucester with their three children. The Coolidge family owns five properties throughout Gray/New Gloucester, including the wedding venue, Coolidge Family Farm, Misty owns and operates in the heart of the Upper Village. Misty’s mobile bar service also serves events throughout the state, and she is a Notary Public and enjoys marrying dozens of couples every year. Misty has a Bachelor’s of Science and worked as a paralegal for Preti, Flaherty for 10 years. She also worked for Dead River Company for 15 years. Misty has built property management and facilities experience having purchased, developed, and maintained her real estate properties.
Misty serves on multiple community Boards and is an ambassador for the Good Shepherd Food Bank. Being a hunger activist, she travels to elementary schools reading her book, “We All Stir the Pot to End Hunger.” In her words, “I am a strong advocate for transparency and want to keep parents informed about the District and do all I can to make sure children have a fun, safe, healthy school experience that will prepare them for the future.”
Term Expires: 2025
Email: mcoolidge@sad15.org
Adam Copp
Adam is in his first term as a New Gloucester member of the Board and is on the Facilities and Personnel committees. He and his wife were raised in the community and both attended GNG. Adam owns/operates a local business in Gray. Adam’s two young children are in and entering the district and provide the motivation for joining the board. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and shooting.
Adam believes in investing in a safer community and incorporates that into every aspect of his life. He is proud the district offers a broad range of options for students, and he would like to see the district continue to communicate those options within the community. Being a parent and a lifetime community member motivates Adam to serve as a Board member.
Term Expires 2027
Email: acopp@sad15.org
Gary Harriman(Vice Chair)
Gary is in his fifth term on the MSAD15 School Board and serves as the Vice-Chair of the Board as well as on the Finance and Facilities committees. Gary ran for the MSAD15 school board in 2008 when his son was a student at GNGMS. Prior to his Board service, Gary spent five years on the Board for Skyline Farms in North Yarmouth, but decided that serving the schools where his children attended was a place where a person’s time could be used to benefit the largest number of community members.
Gary is the District Web Content manager and in-house videographer for RSU14 in Windham. Prior to that role, he spent 32 years at WCSH-TV. He is married with two children, one of whom graduated from GNGHS in 2014. He moved with his son from Portland in 2000 in search of a smaller, more rural town with open space for adventuring.
Gary believes the strength of a community’s school department often determines the community’s quality of life. His vision for the school district is to provide the best education we can afford, the most rigor we can offer, and the most pathways we can create to all of the students of GNG. “To do that we need to provide a safe and healthy learning environment with high quality staff within well designed and maintained facilities.”
Term Expires 2026
Email: gharriman@sad15.org
Theresa Lacadie
Theresa is in her first term as a New Gloucester member of the Board and serves on the Policy and Finance committees. Originally from Braintree MA, Theresa has been part of the greater GNG community since meeting and marrying her husband Butch nearly 20 years ago. Theresa’s son is a student at GNGHS and active in both student government and athletics.
Theresa spent the early part of her career in financial services, particularly working with institutional investors in mutual funds. When she left that 16-year career, she was an internal auditor for specific clients and, as part of a team, helped them prepare for their semi-annual and annual outside audits. As a stay-at-home-mom, Theresa volunteered frequently in schools; serving as a room parent, chaperoning field trips, and helping with PTO events. More recently, Theresa sought other ways to help out in the broader school community. “I want to see all of our students thrive in our schools. I want SAD15 teachers and staff to also thrive and feel supported in their roles in our district.”
Theresa was a board member for four years with Mom-to-Mom of Maine; serving concurrently as their treasurer for three of those years. Later, she was treasurer for Fiddlehead School’s PTA, also a 3-year commitment. She loves living in Maine and being part of this community. When not busy with her son and all of his many activities, she enjoys traveling, reading, watching a good mystery, and spending time with family and friends.
Term Expires 2027
Email: tlacadie@sad15.org
Jim Manzer
Jim is in his second term as a Gray member of the Board and serves on the Finance and Curriculum committees. Jim grew up in Old Town, Maine and attended the University of Maine where he earned three Bachelor of Science degrees in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, and Survey Engineering Technology plus a Master of Business Administration. After graduation, Jim lived and worked throughout the state of Maine with the goal to one day buy the family homestead in Gray where he and his wife of 29 years, a retired School Psychologist, live with their two dogs and two cats.
Having his wife, two siblings, both parents, and two aunts all work in public education motivated Jim to serve on the Board. Given this historical perspective, Jim’s primary vision is to prevent the lowering of standards in education especially in math, science, economics, and civics and to emphasize life skills and trades. Having a multi generation connection and fondness for the Gray-New Gloucester community, Jim is “committed to the importance of a well-educated, self-sufficient citizenry to maintain a strong community, state, and nation.”
Term Expires 2027
Email: jmanzer@sad15.org
Lauren Meek:
Lauren is in her first term as a Gray member of the Board and serves on the Finance and Personnel committees. Her family moved to Gray in 2012 because of the District’s move to a proficiency-based system. Lauren has two children at GNGHS; a junior and a senior. She earned a civil engineer bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and has been a consultant engineer in the transportation industry in Maine for 25 years. Lauren recently began a new position with the Maine Turnpike Authority.
Lauren believes in volunteering and joined the board to support the school district and community. Previous board experience includes being on the planning board in Shapleigh, Maine and the Board of Directors for a local non-profit. She is currently on the Board of Directors for American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Maine. When her children were younger, Lauren was a Girl Scout leader for many years, coached the Middle School Destination Imagination team for a few years, and volunteered with community theater.
Lauren enjoys Maine’s beautiful outdoors with camping, paddling, hiking, swimming and birdwatching. She also plays the violin and wants to find time to be back in an orchestra. At home, she enjoys gardening, sewing, and needlework crafts.
Term Expires 2026
Email: lmeek@sad15.org
Frances Monroe:
Fran is in her first term as a Gray member of the Board and serves on the Policy and Curriculum committees.
Fran was born and raised in Providence, RI. Both sides of her family immigrated from Poland in the early 1900s. Her family had a long history of serving in the military and working in mills. She attended a Catholic grammar school and public high school. Fran became the first college graduate in her family, an accomplishment her children and grandchildren have also gone on to achieve.
In Fran’s own words, she shares: “My father died when I was eight years old, leaving my mother to raise my two brothers and I back in the day when there was no welfare or food handouts. Many meals included mayo and banana sandwiches. Growing up in the city was a challenge. There were chain gangs, motorcycle gangs, hippies, beatniks, flower power groups and Vietnam war protests.
I married when I graduated college, meeting my husband on a blind date and we remained together until his death 3 years ago. We moved 6 times in three years and finally settled in Gray Maine in 1972. Before the kids started school, we traveled through Maine while my husband worked at different locations in the State. I had my own Tax Accounting business, serving many people throughout Maine for 38 years. As a family, we sailed the rocky coast of Maine.
I have been heavily involved in the town serving on many committees and also the Town Council. I am a Catholic Christian and proud Republican. When I am not quilting and gardening, I spend my days being the self-appointed Town’s watchdog.
At my age, why did I want to serve on the school board? Parent’s rights need to be restored. We keep throwing money at a failing system. Why do we have the highest concentration of homeschoolers in the State? I see basic education being eliminated in the name of DEI, emotional learning. Hopefully I can make a difference.”
Term Expires 2025
Email: fmonroe@sad15.org
Sharon Morey:
Sharon is in her first term as a Gray member of the Board and serves on the Curriculum and Finance committees. Sharon is a proud graduate of GNGHS and her daughter is currently attending school in the district. Sharon joined the Board because she was looking for an opportunity to serve the community she has lived in for most of her life. She feels a quality education is one of the most important tools we can give a child, and is the foundation on which they grow to become their own person.
Term Expires 2026
Email: smorey@sad15.org
Sam Pfeifle:
Sam is in his fourth term as a Gray member of the Board and is on the Facilities and Policy committees. He was first elected to the school board in 2014 and served as Board Chair during his third term. Sam moved to Gray in 2001 with wife Kristen and has happily raised two children, who are now seniors in college and GNGHS respectively.
As a freelance writer, Sam operates West Gray Creative, a content services firm, and writes about everything from local matters in the hills of Western Maine to national and international music and politics. He’s also the singer and guitarist of the bluegrass band The World Famous Grassholes, co-owns a bookstore with his sister, Hannah, teaches skiing at Pleasant Mountain, and enjoys a round of golf here and there.
Term Expires 2027
Email: spfeifle@sad15.org