Principal
Welcome to North Dover Elementary School!
My name is Dr. Heather D. Carlton, and I am honored to serve as the principal of North Dover Elementary School. It is a privilege to lead a community filled with dedicated educators, supportive families, and amazing students. This year is especially exciting as we welcome Pre-K to North Dover for the first time. We are thrilled to welcome our Tiniest Tigers and their families as they begin the first pages of their North Dover stories!
Our theme for the 2026–2027 school year is “ROAR into Your Story – Write Your Own Future.” This year, we celebrate each student as the author of his or her own story, encouraging imagination, creativity, individuality, and ownership. Every child brings a unique story shaped by experiences, family, culture, interests, talents, hopes, and dreams. We want our students to discover their voices, take pride in what makes them unique, and recognize their ability to shape their futures.
Through our stories, we celebrate our individuality and the beauty in our differences. Just as importantly, we learn to listen to, appreciate, and respect the stories of others. Our differences strengthen our community, and we want every Tiger to develop the empathy and curiosity to understand perspectives beyond their own.
Our theme also reflects our commitment to student agency. Every choice students make, challenge they overcome, question they ask, and goal they pursue becomes part of their story. We encourage students to take ownership of their learning, persevere through challenges, imagine what is possible, and understand that the choices they make today help build the foundation for tomorrow.
Our partnership with families is an essential part of this journey. Learning extends beyond the classroom, and meaningful conversations can begin with a simple question: “What did you learn today?” When children reflect on and talk about their learning, they begin to see themselves as active participants in their education.
I have been fortunate to serve Dover Public Schools since 1994 in a variety of instructional and leadership roles before joining North Dover in 2021. In May 2025, I completed my Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Centenary University, reinforcing something I have believed throughout my career: we are all lifelong learners, and our stories are never finished.
Together with our faculty, staff, families, and community partners, we will continue building upon North Dover's strong legacy. Through our ROAR expectations—Responsible, Observant, Accepting, and Reliable—and our ROAR Rallies, we will celebrate growth, positive choices, leadership, kindness, and success while ensuring every child feels safe, valued, challenged, and supported.
My door is always open, and I welcome your questions, ideas, and involvement. I look forward to watching all of our Tigers—from our Tiniest PK Tigers to our oldest students—ROAR into their stories, discover their voices, celebrate what makes them unique, appreciate the stories of others, and recognize that they hold the pen as they write their own futures.
Sincerely,
Dr. Heather D. Carlton