Concord School District Issues Statement About Absent Elementary School Principal

CONCORD, NH — Parents of students at Abbot-Downing Elementary School are wondering about the absence of their principal, who has been gone for several weeks after he reportedly left the school abruptly.

In late September, parents began reaching out to Patch about Anthony Blinn’s absence around mid-September. He has served as the school’s principal for eight years. Parents say the district has not told them where he is or why he is no longer at the school, raising transparency concerns.

School Superintendent Tim Herbert said in an updated statement on Wednesday, “The district was recently made aware of a concern regarding the principal of Abbot-Downing School and a potential lack of adherence to district policy.” He added, “An independent review of the matter is currently underway and is expected to conclude soon. As soon as additional information is available, I will share an update with the Abbot-Downing School community.”

More than likely, the lack of comment about Blinn is a personnel issue — information shielded from the public and the press under the state’s right-to-know law. He is currently credentialed in New Hampshire with an experienced educator license certificate and endorsements in principal, elementary education, special education, and specific learning disabilities. His credentials renew in July 2029.

Blinn was hired by the district in 2018, after serving as principal at the Allenstown Elementary School, according to the Concord Monitor. He was the sole finalist for the job out of 24 applicants, according to the report. Blinn had been working in Allenstown for 14 years, including four as a principal and a decade as a special education director.

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