Where Are They Now Wednesday: Derek Eagan, Class of 2018

This month’s Where Are They Now Wednesday spotlight features Fair Haven Union High School alumnus Derek Eagan, Class of 2018, who has turned his early interest in public safety into a meaningful and fast-paced career in emergency services.

While in High School, Derek pursued training through the Stafford Technical Center Public Safety/Criminal Justice program, building the skills that would launch him into the field. Today, he works full time at Community Health Brandon as a Medical Assistant and also serves per diem with Wallingford Rescue Squad, Brandon Area Rescue Squad, and Regional Ambulance Service. His work keeps him actively engaged in caring for and supporting people across the region when they need it most.

While at FHUHS, Derek was a member of the FHUHS Cadets, an experience that helped shape his career direction and commitment to service. He credits several educators with having a lasting influence on his success, including Mrs. Margret Hayward, Mrs. Sheila Nicholes, and Scott Alkinburgh, whose support and guidance helped him along the way.

Outside of his professional life, Derek stays busy with a wide range of interests. During the summer months, he spends time at Pond Hill Ranch and also enjoys fishing, hiking, and just being outdoors. He values time with family and friends—especially his high school best friend, Adam—and is excited to now be a first-time uncle. He has also developed a passion for photography and recently launched his own business, Derek Eagan Photography.

A quote that continues to motivate him is, “Getting back up is the only back up plan you need,” by Bailey Zimmerman.

His advice to today’s Slate Valley students is simple but heartfelt: Don’t rush your four years. Make friends, and take part in the clubs and sports that interest you.

9 days ago, Slate Valley
Graphic titled “Where Are They Now Wednesday” from Slate Valley featuring FHUHS Class of 2018 alumnus Derek Eagan. Text highlights that he studied Public Safety/Criminal Justice at Stafford Technical Center, works full time in the Rutland Regional Medical Center Emergency Department, serves per diem with local rescue squads, is a former FHUHS Cadet, owns Derek Eagan Photography, and recently became an uncle. The photo shows an adult man standing in front of an ambulance in uniform.
Last night, Senator David Weeks, Representative William Canfield, and Representative Zachary Harvey joined community members at a Community Advisory Council meeting at Fair Haven Union Middle & High School for a forum focused on Act 73.

We appreciate our legislators taking the time to meet with the community, answer questions, and provide thoughtful, detailed explanations about Act 73 and its potential direction and impact on education in Vermont. Their openness and engagement helped make the discussion informative and productive for all who attended.
10 days ago, Slate Valley
Three local legislators speak at a table during a community forum, with a display screen behind them reading “Legislator Perspectives on Act 73” and listing guiding questions.
Community members and local legislators sit around tables in a school library classroom during a public discussion meeting, with a presentation on a screen about Act 73 and participants taking notes.
Trivia Tuesday: Did You Know? 📊

All information about Slate Valley’s Proposed FY27 Budget is available in one convenient place on our website. Community members can review the full set of resources, including:

• Proposed FY27 Budget Presentation
• 2025–2026 Annual Report
• Warning for the Annual Meeting
• FY27 Tax Rate Estimates
• Annual Meeting details — February 19, 2026 at 6:30 PM in the Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Band Room

View everything here:
👉 https://www.slatevalleyunified.org/o/svusd/page/fy27-budget

🗳️ Don’t forget: Please vote on Town Meeting Day — March 3, 2026 by Australian ballot, or vote early using an absentee ballot.

Stay informed and take part in the process!
10 days ago, Slate Valley
Slate Valley Unified School District “Trivia Tuesday” graphic that reads “Did You Know?” and explains that all proposed FY27 budget information — including presentations, reports, and supporting documents — is available on one dedicated website page. Includes images of the FY27 Proposed Budget and 2025–2026 Annual Report covers, a student group photo, a QR code, and the link: slatevalleyunified.org/o/svusd/page/fy27-budget.
Reading Buddies!
11 days ago, Kelley Schultz
A wide shot of a classroom showing students working at red tables and on the floor. In the foreground, a boy in a navy hoodie reads a picture book while a girl in a grey hoodie sits next to him with a book titled "More Bones" on the table.
Three students are gathered around a bright red, kidney-shaped table. An older student wearing glasses points to a page in a book, guiding two younger girls who are focused on the text. Small slips of paper are scattered on the table.
Two students sit at a red table looking at a book featuring a large ship, while a third student stands next to them holding a booklet titled "The Story Ship." They appear to be discussing the content of the books together.
Three students sit against a wall decorated with a colorful number line. An older boy in a brown tracksuit sits with his arms crossed between two younger students who are focused on reading their own individual booklets.
A high-angle shot of three girls sitting in a close circle on the handprint rug. Each girl is holding or looking at colorful picture books, appearing to read together or share stories in a small group.
: A group of four students sit in a circle on the handprint rug. An older boy in a brown tracksuit holds a large, busy "search and find" style book, while other students look at their own graphic novels and notebooks nearby.
Two students sit on a colorful rug featuring large, multi-colored handprints. An older student with long red hair holds a large picture book open while a younger boy in a blue t-shirt watches and listens. A classroom calendar and number line are visible on the wall behind them.
Three students are gathered around a bright red, kidney-shaped table. An older student wearing glasses points to a page in a book, guiding two younger girls who are focused on the text. Small slips of paper are scattered on the table
Reminder: Tonight - Act 73 Discussion with Local Legislators!
6:00 to 7:30 PM - Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Library
All are welcome!
11 days ago, Slate Valley
Graphic with Slate Valley Community Advisory Council logo and text announcing the next meeting on February 2, 2026, from 6:00–7:30 PM at the Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Library, featuring an Act 73 discussion with local legislators.
Meet Faculty & Staff Monday - February Spotlight

This month we’re excited to spotlight Bethany Link, a Grade 3 teacher at Benson Village School. This is Mrs. Link’s second year at BVS. Before joining the Benson community, she taught for six years at Randolph Elementary School, working with students in grades K–2.

Outside the classroom, Mrs. Link enjoys spending time with her family and going on adventures together. She also loves reading a good book, cooking and baking, getting outdoors, and a little shopping when she can fit it in.

Her classroom community is guided by this shared message:
“In this classroom, we respect each other, we never give up, we are kind, we laugh a lot, we make mistakes, we have big dreams, we are family!”

A quote that inspires her personally is:
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi

Mrs. Link began the school year on maternity leave after welcoming a baby boy, Thomas Calvin Link, named in honor of both of his grandfathers. We’re so glad to have her back at Benson Village School and deeply appreciate the warmth, care, and positive energy she brings to her students each day.
11 days ago, Slate Valley
Graphic titled “Meet Monday – Slate Valley Faculty & Staff” featuring BVS Grade 3 teacher Bethany Link, with a family photo and text highlights about her experience, hobbies, classroom motto, and welcome of a new baby boy.
There is no EAST BUS RUN this morning, Monday February 2nd.
11 days ago, Amy Roy
District Newsletter: January 30, 2026
https://mailchi.mp/82c6c6cc4bc0/slate-valley-district-newsletter-january-30-2026
14 days ago, Slate Valley
Slate Valley Unified USD newsletter header dated January 30, 2026, featuring the district logo above a winter scene of people ice fishing on a frozen lake with mountains in the background.
Join Us for our next Community Advisory Council Meeting — Monday, February 2!

We hope you’ll join us for the next Community Advisory Council (CAC) Meeting on Monday, February 2, 2026, from 6:00–7:30 PM in the Library at Fair Haven Union Middle & High School.

We’ll be welcoming our local legislators for an important conversation and updates on Act 73. This is a great opportunity to stay informed, ask questions, and share your perspective as we work together to support our schools and community.

🗓 Monday, February 2, 2026
⏰ 6:00–7:30 PM
📍 FHUMHS Library

Come be part of the conversation — we’d love to see you there!
14 days ago, Slate Valley
Graphic with Slate Valley Community Advisory Council logo and text announcing the next meeting on February 2, 2026, from 6:00–7:30 PM at the Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Library, featuring an Act 73 discussion with local legislators.
A group of community members sit around tables in a school library, listening to a man speaking at the front, with bookshelves lining the walls behind them.
Wear your favorite hoodie and reading fun in first grade!
14 days ago, Kelley Schultz
These images show a group of ten students and one teacher posing in a primary school classroom featuring a strong emphasis on mathematics and student creativity.
In this image, a group of ten children and one adult are posing together in a classroom setting.
Three young children sit side-by-side on a tiled floor against a gray wall, each holding up a large open children's book
Wear your Favorite Hoodie Day fun!
14 days ago, Kelley Schultz
An adult woman and a young boy stand side-by-side in a classroom, smiling at the camera.
An adult woman and three young girls pose for a group photo in a classroom setting.
Wear Your Favorite Hoodie Tomorrow, Friday, January 30th!
15 days ago, Slate Valley
Flyer announcing “Wear Your Favorite Hoodie Day” on Friday, January 30, 2026. Text encourages students to wear any type of hoodie—big or small, fuzzy, old or new, colorful, or animal-themed—and emphasizes that it should reflect personal style. Images show a patterned hoodie, a red hooded outfit, and a cartoon animal wearing a hoodie and sunglasses.
Students learned about drawing for part of Crayola’s creativity week! They learned about textures, shading, and got to to use different utensils to create their own soccer balls and fields. ⚽️
15 days ago, Kelley Schultz
A young girl with brown hair sits at a wooden table in a classroom, smiling at the camera while working on an art project.
a completed mixed-media artwork on white paper.
A group of students sits at a large round wooden table covered in markers, colored pencils, and hand sanitizer.
others work on pieces featuring geometric patterns, swirls, and landscape elements.
In a bright classroom, several students are seated at round wooden tables, focused on art projects. They are using markers and crayons to draw on white paper, with many art supplies scattered across the tables.
Students in crazy eights math club did a road trip today and had to carefully plan a trip from the East Coast to the West Coast with limitations on gas, miles driven, and other factors! It was a great lesson on adding, subtracting, and planning ahead.
15 days ago, Kelley Schultz
These students are engaging with a math and geography game called "Road Trip!".
The Game Board: Students use a large fabric map of the United States featuring routes and state abbreviations to plan their journey.
Game Pieces: The journey is tracked using dice to determine movement and small car-shaped markers to represent their location on the map.
It looks like this is a log tracking mileage and fuel refills. Based on the handwriting, it’s a great exercise in basic subtraction and keeping a running total!
Fun in the Sun and Snow!
16 days ago, Kelley Schultz
Two smiling young boys stand side-by-side on a paved area covered in light snow and ice, wearing heavy winter coats, snow pants, gloves, and hats. Behind them, a snow-covered playground features a large snow pile, a basketball hoop, and a light-colored building under a clear blue sky.
Two smiling girls in colorful winter gear—one in a purple jacket and the other in a light blue jacket with bright pink snow pants—stand in a large pile of snow. In the background, other children play on the snowbanks near a building under a clear blue sky.
a girl in a purple jacket and pom-pom beanie
A girl with long reddish hair leans back and smiles while sitting in a large, textured snowbank. She is wearing a patterned camouflage-style hoodie and light-colored snow pants.
A side-by-side composite shows two children in dark winter gear standing in a vast, flat snow-covered field. The child on the left wears a black jacket and beanie, while the child on the right wears a black jacket and a brown knit hat.
Some beautiful Origami!
16 days ago, Kelley Schultz
These images highlight intricate paper-folding projects, often referred to as Iris Folding or modular origami, created by students in a school setting.
A top-down view of a completed paper-folding project resting on a dark gray square of paper. The artwork is a symmetrical, star-like mandala made of many small, folded "kite" shapes in various shades of blue and green, radiating outward from a central point. The project is placed on a wooden table next to a colorful, paint-splattered sheet and some blue paper scraps.
Two young girls smile while sitting at a table in a school cafeteria, working on intricate paper-folding art projects. They are surrounded by colorful paper squares, glue sticks, and completed geometric designs, with a guide sheet on the table labeled "Kite," "Pyramid," "Bug," and "Glider." In the background, other students are seated at long tables eating lunch.
Making bracelets and playing Fishy, Fishy on a cold winter's day!
16 days ago, Kelley Schultz
A young boy wearing glasses and a white t-shirt with heart characters stands at a table, proudly holding up a string of colorful beads he has made. Behind him, other children and adults are seated at the same table, which is covered with bead trays and a red bin filled with more beads. The setting appears to be a school gym or community center, with a basketball hoop and an American flag visible in the background.
A woman and several young children sit at a long brown table, focused on stringing colorful beads using grey sorting trays. A young boy in a white heart-patterned t-shirt proudly holds up a finished string of beads while standing at a similar workstation.
These images showcase children participating in various supervised indoor activities within a school gymnasium or multipurpose room
These images capture children engaged in creative jewelry-making and physical activities within a school gymnasium or community center.
These images capture children participating in jewelry-making and physical activities within a school gymnasium
A young girl in a cat-themed dress smiles while displaying a finished bead keychain
A woman and four young children sit at a long brown table in a gymnasium, focused on making jewelry with colorful beads and grey sorting trays. Several other children are visible in the background near a blue padded wall and folding cafeteria tables.
Huge thank you to 6th graders for joining and helping Kinders make their play-dough!
16 days ago, Amy Roy
This second image offers another perspective of the group activity, showing several more children focused on their dough creations at the long cafeteria tables.
These images capture children participating in a hands-on playdough making activity within a school cafeteria or gymnasium.
These images capture a multi-stage, hands-on activity where children and teenagers are working together to make and play with homemade playdough.
These images capture a collaborative "Easy No-Cook DIY Playdough" workshop involving children and teenagers in a school cafeteria or gymnasium setting.
These images document a collaborative "Easy No-Cook DIY Playdough" workshop held for children and teenagers in a school cafeteria or gymnasium.
This collection of images documents a collaborative "Easy No-Cook DIY Playdough" workshop held for children and teenagers in a school cafeteria or gymnasium setting.
This image shows a group of children and teenagers gathered around long tables in what appears to be a school cafeteria or gymnasium, enthusiastically working with dough.
Kinders earned a PBIS class celebration! We will each get to make our own play-dough tomorrow :)
17 days ago, Amy Roy
"A group of eight young children sitting on the floor in a school hallway, smiling at the camera. They are in front of a large, craft-style tree with a beehive and paper bees attached. One child is holding a jar filled with small yellow and white balls. Behind them, a bulletin board displays a colorful bear with the words 'Have a Creative Day!' and various student photos. In the background, another child in a pink outfit is at a water fountain near the hallway doors."
Two of our second grade mathematicians have made it to 1,000 on their number scrolls!
18 days ago, Amy Roy
Two elementary-aged students stand indoors in front of a door, smiling and holding very long strips of paper that extend from their hands down to the floor. Each strip is covered with neatly written numbers or math work in small boxes, showing an extensive completed activity. The student on the left wears a dark shirt, and the student on the right wears a light shirt with a hoodie. Classroom posters about calming strategies and breathing are visible on the wall to the right, and a fan sits on the floor to the left.