Ayotte Nominates Diana E. Fenton for Child Advocate

CONCORD, NH - Today, Governor Kelly Ayotte nominated Diana E. Fenton of Mont Vernon to serve as Director of the New Hampshire Office of the Child Advocate. Fenton currently serves as Chief of the Governance Unit at the New Hampshire Department of Education.

Governor Ayotte released the following statement on Fenton's nomination:

"Throughout her career in public service, Diana Fenton has held herself to the highest professional standards. Having worked at the Department of Education and as an Assistant Attorney General at the Department of Justice, Diana knows that protecting children is critical to the future of our state. Diana will be a steadfast voice for our most vulnerable and is highly qualified to lead the Office of the Child Advocate."

Commissioner of Education Caitlin Davis added the following statement in support of Fenton:

"Diana Fenton has served at the New Hampshire Department of Education for more than a decade, focusing on the implementation of the educator code of conduct and on the review and investigation of educator misconduct - efforts that have strengthened high standards of professional conduct for education in New Hampshire. Throughout her career, she has engaged thoughtfully with families and listened to parents' concerns with compassion and professionalism. Her experience and background position her as a strong candidate to serve as New Hampshire's next Child Advocate."

Highlights on Diana Fenton:

• Accomplished prosecutor and attorney with professional management experience and focus on child safety.
• Leads the Department of Education's Governance Unit, where she created and implemented the Educator Code of Conduct, manages constituent concerns and educator misconduct investigations, and has focused on improving the Department's teacher vetting and credentialing process.
• Previously served as an Assistant Attorney General at the New Hampshire Department of Justice, focused on training for prosecutors and law enforcement on traffic safety, impaired driving, and homicide cases.

About Diana Fenton:

Diana E. Fenton is an experienced prosecutor and attorney who has spent her career in public service, including 18 years of service to the State of New Hampshire. Fenton currently serves as Chief of the Governance Unit at the Department of Education.

During her time at the Department of Education, Fenton has focused on child safety and improving the vetting and credentialing process for new teachers. Fenton led the effort to create the Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics for New Hampshire Educators, which passed the Legislature in 2018. She also manages constituent concerns and oversees teacher misconduct investigations.

Prior to her time at the Department of Education, Fenton was an Assistant Attorney General at the New Hampshire Department of Justice. In that role, she focused on improving training for prosecutors and law enforcement handling traffic safety, impaired driving, and homicide cases. Fenton received her Bachelor's Degree from Dickinson College and her J.D. from the University of New Hampshire Law School.