Harris Brook Elementary School

Mrs. Nikki Reed was appointed Principal of Chapin Street School in 2015  where she remained until 2021 when she was  appointed co-principal of the new Harris Brook Elementary School along with Veterans Park Principal, Melissa Knowles. Harris Brook Elementary School combined the two existing elementary schools to make one 106,250-square-foot building housing grades 2-5 on Chapin’s 13 acre campus.

She began her career with the Ludlow Public Schools in 2000 when she was tapped as the preschool and elementary special education supervisor. 

Prior to joining the Ludlow Public Schools Reed was a grade 1-3 behavioral teacher for the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative 1995, both a K-6 inclusion teacher and a language learning co-teacher for grades 3 & 4 for the Westfield Public Schools 1996-2000 and supervised student teachers for Westfield State University 2002.

Reed is a 1994  graduate of Bridgewater State University where she earned a B.A. in both Elementary Education and Special Education. She continued her education receiving a M.Ed. in Special Education from Westfield State University in 1997 and her Special Education Administrative Certification  through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary in 2012, SEI endorsement 2016 and Principal 2014.

During her tenure as the Chapin Street principal Reed initiated several creative and educational student learning opportunities to engage students beyond the classroom. 

In 2018 she applied for and received a grant from the Captain Planet Foundation that provided raised garden beds, soil and seeds for the creation of hands-on educational learning experiences to teach students about gardening.

That same year Reed also received a  STARS (Students and Teachers working with Artists, Scientists, and Scholars) grant funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council to bring hands-on STEM activities to 3rd graders with the “science guy” Jay Mankita.

In 2017 Reed introduced Chapin Street 3rd grade girls to the national non-profit organization, Girls on the Run.  A program designed to strengthen  social, emotional, physical and behavioral skills to successfully navigate life experiences.

Reed is married to her husband Mike and together they have one daughter, Kasey.  In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family.