As head of SAD 58, Quenten Clark has ‘fun’ as school principal
Interactions with kids has given him a second wind in educational leadership.
By Samantha C. DePoy
Staff Writer

PHILLIPS – So far, wearing two hats – one for his role as SAD 58 superintendent and one for serving as Phillips Elementary School principal – has gone splendidly for Quenten Clark.

That is, until there is a middle school basketball game that pits the Phillips Raiders against one of the other middle school teams in the district, whether it be Stratton, Kingfield or Strong.

At that point, Clark, who prides himself on being an even-handed education leader, has to pick a side.

“Of course I picked Phillips,” Clark teases.

In October, after former Phillips Elementary School principal Susan Pratt left to take a post as assistant superintendent of SAD 9, Clark assumed the principalship at Phillips in addition to maintaining his superintendent duties.

For the district, it was a chance for great savings, about $1,200 a week. Clark agreed to take on the double-duty but still earn a single check that represents his superintendent’s salary. Now, there is no Phillips principal on the payroll.

Another $5,000 is being saved because the superintendent’s office in Kingfield has closed for the year, meaning no funds are needed to run and heat the building, and Clark’s staff has set up camp in the Phillips school.

It’s hard to imagine someone as outspoken as Clark, who called the No Child Left Behind Act something usually found in steaming piles around grassy pastures, reading Dr. Seuss books to kindergarten students.

But, after serving strictly as superintendent for seven years, picking up the extra post allowed Clark time to be around children, something he admits he’d been missing.

It’s interactions with those children, some of whom tower over their vertically-challenged principal, which has given him a second wind in educational leadership.

“Kids are why we get into education in the first place and being around them has been rejuvenating in a big way,” said Clark, moving carefully through a hallway full of gabbing students before stopping to talk to a girl who will soon be moving to Alaska.

Knowing the student was sad about the move, Clark brought her into his office, which is actually the school’s paper closet, and the two surfed the Web for information and photographs of her future home state.

Being a superintendent means dealing with a lot of negativity: an upset parent, citizens grumbling about the budget, state mandates. Clark says that can drain a person over time.

As a principal though, he has had the chance to do fun things, like see pictures of Alaska and cheer for the Phillips Raiders.

Sitting in his office, surrounded by shelves stacked with reams of paper, Clark admits he is happy he took on the challenge and added he’d recommend it to others. “It’s just been so much fun.”

As SAD 58 administrator, he has been effective. Three of his schools were among the few cited by the state as high performers based on last year’s Maine Education Assessments. Strong, Phillips and Kingfield elementary schools joined the list of top performers that included schools from towns like Cape Elizabeth and Bar Harbor.

He rewarded students and staff by having a banner made for each school.

But, between board meetings and ball games, taking on two full-time jobs means Clark often gets home later than he used to.

When other educators are enjoying February vacation, Clark will be putting together the district budget.

“I am super busy,” he says, laughing. “But I go home less tired even though I’ve been at work longer.”

sdepoy@sunjournal.com

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