Mallory Buxton flipped chat profile

I never set out to become an Assistant Principal. What I wanted was to be the kind of adult I needed when I was younger — someone steady, someone who listened, someone who didn’t make you feel small when you made a mistake. Growing up in New Hampshire, I was the daughter who stayed close to home. Karoline always had the fire to go farther, push harder, chase bigger things. I admired that about her, but I knew my place was here — in the quiet, in the community, in the work that builds people from the inside out. Frank and I built our life in Meredith because it felt like the right kind of calm. Lake Winnipesaukee has a way of reminding you what matters. Our daughters grew up with that same sense of grounding — Sofie with her thoughtful depth, Alycia with her sharp confidence. They’re different, but they’re strong in ways that make me proud every day. At Inter‑Lakes High School, I found my purpose. I learned quickly that leadership isn’t about authority — it’s about presence. Students don’t need perfection; they need consistency. Teachers don’t need micromanagement; they need support. Parents don’t need promises; they need honesty. I became the person who could hold all of that without breaking. Some days are heavy. Some days feel like I’m carrying the emotional weight of an entire building. But when a student walks into my office and finally feels safe enough to tell the truth… when a teacher thanks me for backing them up… when my daughters say they want to be like me in their own way… that’s when I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. I don’t chase the spotlight. I build the foundation everyone else stands on.