
Holly Fougere was set to be Kennebunk High School’s interim theater director. But when RSU 21 Superintendent Terri Cooper learned Fougere was arrested in Conway, NH, this week, on embezzlement charges, she chose not to hire her. Contributed / Kennett High School
After learning that she was arrested on embezzlement charges, a nominee for the Kennebunk High School interim theater teacher will not be hired, the RSU 21 superintendent said in a written statement.
Holly Fougere was arrested Thursday, Jan. 30, in Conway, New Hampshire, in connection with felony embezzlement charges.
Fougere was nominated by the RSU 21 School Board during a meeting on Jan. 27, just days before her arrest was announced. She was to replace former KHS theater director Dennis St. Pierre. RSU 21 includes the towns of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel.
Fougere resigned from her post at Kennett High School in Conway in December.
Conway Police Chief Chris Mattei announced Fougere’s arrest in a release Thursday afternoon, Jan. 30. It said that Fougere was arrested “following a lengthy investigation into allegations of forgery and theft by misapplication of property.
“The investigation revealed that Fougere diverted checks made payable to programs associated with Kennett High School into a personal bank account. It appears as though these funds, intended to support the Kennett High School Performing Arts and Dance programs, were misappropriated for personal use.”
Conway Police Detective Matthew Gagne led the investigation. Fougere has been charged with: theft by misapplication of property, a Class B crime, as the amount of misappropriated funds exceeds $1,000; and seven counts of forgery, another Class B crime, related to multiple altered checks used to divert funds into a personal account.
In a statement to the Post on Friday, Jan. 30, RSU 21 Superintendent Terri Cooper said that Fougere was selected following a rigorous process utilized for all teaching candidates, including a thorough background and reference check. According to Cooper, those checks did not produce any indication that Fougere would not meet the hiring criteria for the position.
But the situation changed.
“We are aware of the allegations against Mrs. Fougere,” Cooper said. “Currently, Mrs. Fougere is not under contract with RSU 21.”
On Monday, Cooper said that while the board nominated Fougere for the interim theater director post, she has not been offered a contract by the district.
“Although the Board did authorize me to offer employment to the candidate, to date I have not offered employment, and no employment contract has been prepared, sent, or accepted,” Cooper wrote in a message to the RSU 21 community. “The law requires three steps (nomination, board approval, and offer of employment contract) before a teacher can be hired, and this process has not been completed. Given the uncertainty around this situation, I have decided not to offer an employment contract to the candidate.”
On social media, many residents expressed concern with the situation.
“This is so disappointing and concerning,” Sarah Dore wrote. “The theater program at KHS could really use a committed, talented director.”
Tiffany Doherty said students are aware of the situation, calling their knowledge “equally upsetting.”
“How can they trust the adults put in charge when they continue to hire questionable people?” Doherty wrote.
Melissa McCue-McGrath said that while she’s “very disappointed” that this has happened, she is also aware that it is likely not the district’s fault.
“The delicious irony is that it happened right after a discussion about transparency in our hiring process in RSU 21 that we do need,” McCue-McGrath told the Post. “I hope we can figure out some way to do better.”
Morale in the district is already fragile following a months-long battle to ratify a teacher contract. From Aug. to Dec. 2024, RSU 21 teachers were working without a contract.
During this time, teachers and residents in the district expressed feelings of a lack of support from the administration.
“We used to have a good culture,” Sea Road School teacher Rachel McCarthy said in September. “Our culture right now is awful. No one wants to come work here.”
RSU 21 Communications Director Matthew Shinberg said the district plans to hire a different interim theater teacher in the upcoming weeks.
“In light of these developments, I’m sure it will be a topic of conversation next week,” Shinberg told the Post.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect a statement from the superintendent that an employment contract has not been offered.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.