Leadership Team

Mr. William Van Bennekum is the Principal of Londonderry Middle School. He began as a sixth-grade math and science teacher at Great Bridge Middle School in Chesapeake, Virginia. After serving as a sixth-grade teacher, boys basketball coach, and Athletic Director for seven years and completing his Master’s Degree in School Administration, he moved from the classroom to Assistant Principal, where he served eight years with the Chesapeake City Public Schools.

In 2007, he returned to his home state of N.H., as the Principal of Holderness Central School, in SAU #48, and with his family settled in Gilford, where he grew up and graduated from high school. He served the town of Holderness and the families for twelve years as the Principal. He continued his education at Plymouth State University, earning a Certificate of Graduate Studies from Plymouth State University and a K-12 Superintendent Certificate. In 2019, he was offered the opportunity to become the Principal of Londonderry Middle School and work for one of New Hampshire's largest and finest school districts. As an experienced middle-school educator, his passion for working with students and supporting families as they navigate the middle years continues to be at the forefront of his leadership.

 Mr. Van Bennekum is a graduate of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, earning his B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.S. in Education Administration. He has two children. Nicholas is a graduate of the SUNY- Environmental Science and Forestry School @ Syracuse and is an Assistant Superintendent for Consigli Construction Company. His daughter Kaitlyn is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and the University of New Hampshire. She will begin her career as a Speech-Language Pathologist for the Belmont School District in the fall. William is married to Cathy, a lifelong educator, and currently the District Coordinator of Curriculum, Assessment, and intervention for the Winnisquam School District. 

Mr. David Sutherland is the Londonderry Middle School.  Mr. Sutherland's career in education started after he determined that being a software and hardware quality assurance manager was not fulfilling.  He had earned an undergraduate degree in Business and Management Information Systems from Northeastern University and thought that the computer industry was where he wanted to spend his time.  However, he left that field to pursue being an educator.  

He started his educational career at a charter school in Malden, Massachusetts, and while working as a teaching assistant, he pursued a  Graduate Degree in Elementary Education from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Upon completing his degree, he entered the classroom as a 6th-grade general education teacher and Lead teacher, and after three years in that position, he left the public charter school environment and worked as a 6th-grade Science Teacher at the Rupert A. Nock Middle School in Newburyport.

He married his wife, Leah, and in 2007 they decided to purchase a home in Londonderry, closer to his new teaching job in Bedford, N.H., at  McKelvie Intermediate School as a sixth-grade Math, Science, and Social Studies teacher.  While teaching sixth grade, he enrolled at Rivier University and earned an advanced degree and Principal Certification.  After five years, David decided to move into a leadership position. In 2012, he took a position as an  Assistant Principal in the Allenstown School District, and after serving a year, an opportunity became available in Londonderry at the Middle School, where he jumped at the chance to work for the school district and his hometown. Since joining the Londonderry Middle School in 2013, he earned his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Competency-Based Education through SNHU in 2021

Dave is proud to be a part of the Londonderry community and serve the families as the assistant principal of Londonderry Middle School and enjoys working, living, and raising his two daughters in a close-knit community. Dave is an active community member and can be seen on the sports fields, where he enjoys watching his two daughters, Jordan and Reese, play softball, soccer, and volleyball. When they aren't on the sports fields, he enjoys fishing with his kids and other recreational activities with his family, such as camping, hiking, and mountain biking.   

Working with such a talented and dedicated group of educators is a privilege, and he enjoys going to work every day to help the staff and students be the best they can be.

Dr. John W. MacArthur, Jr. is excited and honored to serve as the Assistant Principal for Grade 6 at Londonderry Middle School. His ongoing goal is to collaborate with families, students, and staff to support a positive school experience and help prepare students to become active, educated, and productive citizens.

Dr. MacArthur and his wife, Gina, currently reside in Hooksett, New Hampshire. They love living in New England and enjoy spending their summers visiting the Seacoast area, especially downtown Portsmouth. They have one son, Jonah, who is a Lancer at Londonderry High School. Dr. MacArthur enjoys spending time with family and friends, making music, and anything automotive. He also loves to unwind by kayaking, traveling, especially to Aruba, and attending concerts.

Originally from Salem, New Hampshire, Dr. MacArthur comes from a family of educators. Both of his parents are retired teachers, and his sister is also a teacher. They often joke that education is their family business. Dr. MacArthur earned his undergraduate degree in music education from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. After graduating, he worked for three years at North Andover Middle School in Massachusetts as a music teacher and band director. In 2003, he accepted a position as director of instrumental music and music teacher at Milford Middle School in Milford, New Hampshire. During this time, he helped build the music program, hosted and attended music festivals with his students, and chaired the NHMEA Southwest Music Festival.

In 2008, Dr. MacArthur earned his Master of Education in educational administration from Rivier College, which led to his next career move to SAU 24, where he served as assistant principal at Weare Middle School for four years. Before joining Londonderry Middle School, he served as principal of Boynton Middle School in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, for two years and as principal of Alton Central School for seven years, which was recognized as a “New Hampshire School of Excellence” under his leadership in 2019. Dr. MacArthur recently earned his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University.

Dr. MacArthur believes in respect, responsibility, and perseverance both inside and outside of the school walls. He is a firm believer in strengths-based leadership, a growth mindset, and restorative practices. He looks forward to continuing to work closely with the students, staff, families, and Londonderry community.

Mr. Tim Westphal brings nearly 25 years of experience in education, including the last five years as an Assistant Principal. 

He has a profound commitment to fostering positive relationships with all members of the school community. He firmly believes that these relationships are pivotal in unlocking human potential and improving student outcomes. His extensive experience as a paraprofessional, substitute teacher, classroom instructor and now as an administrator, has taught him that forming positive relationships in education is a transformative force.

As Assistant Principal, Mr. Westphal's primary goal is to ensure that each student feels safe, valued, and respected, enabling them to reach their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally. He is dedicated to creating an environment that encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and personal growth. His commitment to partnering with staff, students, and families is unwavering, as he strives to ensure every student is engaged, progressing, and ultimately successful.  To this end, he invites you to share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns with him, as he values your input and partnership. 

Tim lives in Manchester and has been married to his lovely wife, JoAnna, since 2011, together they have one child, Giovanni, who loves to swim and play soccer.

Mrs. Meaghan Nason serves as the Curriculum Coordinator at Londonderry Middle School. In her role, she is committed to strengthening collaborative practices, supporting high-quality instruction, and fostering academic growth and enrichment for all students.

Mrs. Nason began her career in education teaching middle school science, reading, and English in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts. She later served as a Literacy Coach at both the elementary and middle school levels in Lawrence, where she supported teachers in implementing effective literacy instruction and improving student achievement.

Mrs. Nason joined the Londonderry Middle School community as a Reading and Writing Specialist, focusing on enhancing literacy practices and using assessment data to guide instruction and support student success. As Curriculum Coordinator, she continues to work closely with teachers and staff to promote meaningful learning experiences and continuous instructional improvement.

Mrs. Nason earned a degree in Communication Arts with a minor in Education from the University of New Hampshire and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix. 

She resides in Salem, New Hampshire, with her husband and their two sons. Outside of school, Mrs. Nason enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching sports, reading, cooking, and traveling. She is grateful to be part of the Londonderry School District and values the opportunity to work alongside dedicated educators, students, and families.

Mrs. Phyllis Donaldson is the Special Education Coordinator at LMS. Before that, she was a case manager and paraprofessional at LMS. 

Mrs. Donaldson earned her bachelor's degree in behavioral science while her children were in middle school. She also received her General Special Education Certification, in addition to a master's degree in education, from Plymouth State University in 2008. She completed her Special Education Administration certification in 2011. In 2019, she furthered her education by earning advanced certification in emotional and behavioral disabilities from Granite State College. 

Mrs. Donaldson is a resident of Londonderry and has been for over 25 years.  She and her husband raised three children who are now grown and living in different parts of the country. Their oldest daughter lives in the San Diego area, their middle daughter lives in North Carolina, while their son and daughter-in-law live nearby, allowing them to enjoy many weekends with their 4-year-old grandson.