POLAND – The teamwork efforts of two Poland schools, from round-table counseling to governance to potluck suppers, has drawn national recognition.
Computer chip giant Intel named Poland Regional High School and Bruce M. Whittier Middle School as a finalist for its annual Schools of Distinction competition.
The Poland schools were named among 60 nationwide, culled from more than 3,300 applications.
No other Maine schools were chosen, and only three others in New England – one each in Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut – were named as finalists.
“It’s a wonderful affirmation of what we do and will do,” said Derek Pierce, the high school’s principal.
Since the schools opened in 1999, they’ve worked differently from the norm.
Among its procedures are a daily roundtable with students and a teacher, “looping” classes so that teachers and students shared some classes for two years and a Parents Advisory Group, which weighs in on new policies.
“We didn’t invent anything,” Pierce said Friday. “We used a lot of other people’s ideas.”
Since Pierce became the high school’s principal in 2002 – for a time leading the middle school, too – teamwork among students, teachers, parents and the community has grown, said David Griffiths, chairman of the School Union 29 board of directors.
When parents complained that they weren’t being heard, Pierce created the Parents Advisory Group. He initiated a community reading project, convincing people from the school’s member towns to read the same book. And he invited people for informal potluck suppers in the school cafeteria.
“I think we eventually earned people’s trust,” Pierce said. “And that takes time.”
Pierce announced in March that he would leave at the end of the school year. Earlier this week, school officials named William Doughty, School Union 29’s assistant superintendent, to take Pierce’s place.
Doughty will continue Pierce’s work, said Griffiths.
Superintendent Nina Schlikin said Friday that the nomination gives legitimacy to the work of Pierce and many others.
The prize money and gifts would be nice, too.
Currently in its second year, the Intel contest gathers entries from 10 different categories, including academic achievement, leadership excellence and technology innovation. In each category, three elementary schools and three high schools were chosen. The Poland schools are in the internal teamwork category.
The winners, 20 in all, will be chosen this fall and awards will be made on Oct. 6 in Washington. Each will receive $10,000 cash and about $150,000 in books, software and computer gear.
The prize drew Pierce’s attention.
“There are lots of grants out there that help with training, and those are great,” Pierce said. “But it’s hard to get grants to pay for things.”
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