RUMFORD – Bruce Lindberg purposely doesn’t sit behind his desk whenever a student or staff member comes in.

“It gives a bad message that you’re not approachable,” said the new principal at Mountain Valley High School. “When we talk, I don’t want barriers between us.”

His belief in keeping the lines of communication wide open extends to his office door. He practices an open door policy, encouraging staff to come in and talk. The only time he closes it is when someone needs privacy.

“I’ve always had this philosophy. Education is based on communication,” he said. “If the door is closed and you’re always behind it, you are setting up a message that you don’t want communication, and communication is vital for success.”

Lindberg is now in his third month of the leadership position at MVHS. He replaced former Principal Curt-Randall Bayer who left at the end of the school year for a similar position in Idaho. Lindberg comes to the River Valley from a similar position at Piscataquis Community High School in Guilford, a school with 380 students. MVHS’s current enrollment is 580.

Originally from Mexico where he graduated from MHS in 1970, then from the University of Maine at Farmington and the University of Maine, Lindberg has taught or administered in several Maine high schools including Bucksport High School, Sumner Memorial High School, Dirigo High School and Ellsworth High School. He also left the state for two years in the mid-1990s to serve as a high school principal in Aspen, Colo. He returned in 1997 to become the principal at Piscataquis Community High School.

His position at MVHS brings him home where he wants to use his optimism and philosophy for the benefit of area students.

“The teachers are dedicated to the kids and the kids are a really hardworking, caring group. They know why they are here. A high school is a microcosm of the society and reflects the hardworking, honest, down-to-earth people here,” he said.

He plans to intensify the work needed to bring the curriculum in line with the Maine Learning Results. He also will push for greater integration of technology as a learning devise. He’s a proponent of the laptop program for middle school students and wants to see it extended to high school students.

“Because our world is so technology oriented, our kids will have an advantage,” he said.

His biggest challenge so far has been trying to get a sense of where the school has been. With the high turnover of principals and the retirement of most of the long-term teachers over the past couple of years, a sense of history is lacking.

“To go forward, you have to know where you have been. It’s real tough to get a history lesson,” he said.

But he has been pleased with the welcome given to him by staff, students and parents. “Everyone has been very open. I like the lack of pretentiousness in this district. What you see is what you get,” he said.

When Lindberg isn’t hanging out in the halls, taking care of business in his office, or pursuing the multitude of tasks expected of a high school principal, he often speaks on educational matters either in or outside the state, scouts for basketball players from private schools for colleges, serves as a Promising Futures consultant, and reads historical novels.

“I’m happy to be home and excited about the job,” he said.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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