Meet Our Principals
Mr. Chris Sousa, Principal
Career-wise, my first decade as an educator was spent in front of the classroom teaching primarily mathematics and social studies. The second decade was spent behind the scenes serving as a middle and high school administrator. Then, after some deep reflection, I returned to the classroom for three incredible years. That experience renewed my sense of purpose and reminded me why education matters so much. In fact, I believe every administrator would benefit from spending time back in the classroom. With that renewed perspective, I returned to school leadership, serving as principal of a small PreK-8 school before coming home to Epping. Today, I have the privilege of serving as the Principal of Epping Elementary School, a role that is both professionally rewarding and personally meaningful, as I have the opportunity to lead the elementary school in the community my family proudly calls home.
Over the past thirty plus years, I have had the privilege of teaching students from middle school through college and serving as an administrator at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. While education has changed in many ways during that time, one belief has remained constant: students and staff need to feel cared for, respected, and valued before they can fully invest themselves in learning and teaching. That philosophy continues to guide my work every day. It is one of the many reasons I feel so fortunate to be part of Epping Elementary. Our staff's commitment to children, our supportive families, and our strong sense of community make this an exceptional place to learn and grow.
I truly love education. It is one of the greatest opportunities we have to positively shape lives. Living and working in New Hampshire, where public education continues to be among the nation's strongest, is a source of great pride. I have always been fascinated by the important milestones in a student's educational journey, from learning to read, to navigating middle school, to preparing for graduation and life beyond. Early literacy remains one of my greatest passions because it opens the door to every other learning opportunity that follows. While working with middle school students has always held a special place in my heart, leading an elementary school has only strengthened my appreciation for the incredible foundation our youngest learners build each day. Watching children discover their confidence, curiosity, and love of learning reminds me why I chose this profession, and I cannot imagine a better place to do that work than here at Epping Elementary School.
My family and I have proudly called Epping home for two decades. Our daughter, Olivia, is entering her senior year of college studying Fashion Marketing and Media, and our son, Tiernan, has turned his passion for automobiles into a career as a mechanic at an Audi dealership. My wife, Colleen, continues to inspire her students as an art teacher, and our dog, Callie, recently became a registered therapy dog. She still has plenty of puppy energy to burn off before fully embracing the calm, comforting side of that role, but she's making progress!
When I'm not at school, you'll usually find me enjoying photography, walking trails, fishing, golf, or playing guitar. More recently, I've added another hobby that seems to alternate between being incredibly rewarding and mildly maddening: restoring a 1979 MGB. It's a project that regularly tests my patience, teaches me something new, and reminds me that perseverance, working the problems one step at a time, and occasionally (or more so) asking for help, are usually the keys to success. Fortunately, unlike restoring a 47-year-old British car, working with the incredible students and staff at Epping Elementary brings far more joy than frustration.
Being the Principal of Epping Elementary School is truly an honor. Every day I am inspired by our students, grateful for our dedicated staff, and appreciative of the trust our families place in us. Together, we are building a school where children feel safe, challenged, supported, and excited to learn.
I look forward to another wonderful year of learning, growing, and celebrating all that makes Epping Elementary such a special place. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving this amazing community.
Looking forward to a great year together! Stop by anytime to visit or call/email if you ever need anything.
Chris Sousa
Principal
Epping Elementary School
NH Certifications:
5-8 Math
5-12 Social Studies
PK-12 Principal
PF-12 Superintendent
Education:
Bachelors of Science in Business Management with a minor in PreLaw
Masters of Education in Middle/Secondary Education
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership
Mr. Daniel Combatti, Assistant Principal
If there's one thing my years in education have taught me, it's that people may forget the lessons, but they'll always remember how you made them feel. I believe education is about far more than academics. The curriculum matters, but so do the hallway high-fives. It's about building relationships, listening well, asking good questions, and helping others become the best versions of themselves.
My path into education began long before I stepped into my own classroom. As a high school student, I found myself tutoring younger students and discovered how rewarding it was to help someone believe in themselves. That feeling never left me. More than twenty years later, I still wake up excited by the opportunity to help others learn and grow. At the heart of everything I do are three simple goals: be my best, help others be their best, and leave the world a little better than I found it.
Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with students from preschool through sixth grade in a variety of roles. I've been a classroom teacher, interventionist, instructional leader, coach, tutor, and even a published children's book author. Each experience has reinforced the same lesson: every child deserves someone who believes in them, and every educator deserves to feel supported and encouraged. My years at Epping Elementary have been the most rewarding because this community has challenged me, encouraged me, and reminded me that we're always better when we grow together.
Outside of school, I am incredibly fortunate to share life with my amazing wife, Jaime, who serves as the director of a preschool in Portsmouth. Together we are raising our two wonderful children: our energetic five-year-old son, Ralph, and our curiously wild two-year-old daughter, Olive, who remind me every day of the importance of patience, joy, wonder, unconditional love and lots of paper towels.
I am especially excited for the opportunity to serve alongside Chris Sousa. I believe the strongest leadership comes from genuine collaboration, honest conversations, and the willingness to learn from each other's strengths. Leadership is not about one person having all the answers. It's about bringing out the best in one another, because people follow people before they follow plans. I'm grateful to partner with someone who shares a deep commitment to students, staff, and the Epping community, and I look forward to helping EES continue to grow while continuing to grow myself.
What excites me most about Epping Elementary is the opportunity to help create a school where every student, staff member, and family feels welcomed, valued, and supported. Schools should be places where people feel safe to take risks, learn from mistakes, celebrate successes, and discover what they're capable of. I look forward to partnering with our families and community as we continue building on the incredible foundation that already exists here.
Every day, I strive to lead with optimism, humility, gratitude, empathy, resilience, kindness, and joy. My hope is simple: to help make Epping Elementary a place where people love to learn, love to work, and maybe even smile a little more on their way out the door than when they came in.
With gratitude, take care.
Daniel Combatti
Assistant Principal
daniel.combatti@eppingsd.org
(603) 679-8018
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