By Lindsay Tice,Staff Writer

POLAND – After a national search, school officials have found a new principal.

And they found him in their backyard.

William Doughty, Union 29’s assistant superintendent, has been hired to replace Derek Pierce as principal of Poland Regional High and Bruce M. Whittier Middle schools.

“We saw him as a strong but collaborative educator. We felt he would work with the faculty in moving forward,” said Linda Chaisson, the schools’ technology coordinator and a member of the search committee. “We needed just that right person.”

Doughty, 56, began his career teaching music in Massachusetts in the 1970s. He came to Maine in 1983 to serve as principal of Dirigo High School in Dixfield, then moved on to Scarborough High School. In the 1980s and ’90s, he worked for the Maine Department of Education and for the Portland School System.

Doughty made headlines, however, while working as superintendent of SAD 40, located in the Waldoboro area. School officials said Doughty had known for months about a nearly $400,000 deficit, but failed to tell the school board. Doughty resigned in March 2003.

In the scandal’s wake, Doughty said he re-examined his goals as an educator, deciding he was a weak budgeter. He said he was turning his attention to his passions: curriculum development and creating links between teachers, parents and the community.

He was hired as Union 29’s assistant superintendent in July 2003. The school board vote was unanimous and without discussion.

Dream school

Doughty said the position allowed him to get to know the controversial high school and its unconventional staff. He came to believe Poland’s middle and high schools were among the best in the state.

When Pierce resigned to take over a new alternative school in Portland, Doughty applied for the job.

He said he loved the school’s challenging, caring environment.

“They built the school we (educators) dreamed of years ago,” Doughty said. “I find that invigorating.”

Union 29, which serves Poland, Minot and Mechanic Falls, received 14 applications, including some from other states. The 17-member search committee took four candidates to the school for intensive interviews.

Officials said the application process was short, but exhaustive. When they offered Doughty the job earlier this week, they were certain they had the right person.

“He’s a very strong leader. Thoughtful. Caring. Intelligent,” said Superintendent Nina Schlikin. “We needed someone who could take the staff to the next level. We thought Bill could do that.”

When it opened in 1999, Poland Regional High School was touted as a different kind of school with a progressive approach to education. Many of its guiding principles, such as placing students of all levels in the same courses, quickly came under attack by people who were uncomfortable with them. The school has struggled for years to smooth its communication with parents and community members.

Doughty said he wants to work on that during his tenure.

“We have to keep reaching out for the good of our kids,” he said.

For other goals and concerns, Doughty will look to staff and students. Such collaboration, he said, is the hallmark of the schools.

“It wouldn’t really be right for me to walk through the door and say, These are the things we’re changing,'” he said.

Doughty will be the schools’ third principal. The first, Jackie Soychak, helped develop the middle and high schools. She left in 2002 and was replaced by Pierce, the dean of faculty.

Doughty starts as principal July 1.