FARMINGTON – After five years as principal of Mt. Blue High School, and one as assistant principal, it should come as no surprise that Greg Potter has some mixed emotions as he prepares to leave the school to become the next superintendent of Windsor.
“It’s hard when you put six years of your life into something and you feel like you’re about to have that severed,” he said.
But with mixed emotions or not, on Friday, Potter will say his final goodbye to Mt. Blue High School, getting six days off before he begins his new job on July 1.
Although he’s been principal at Mt. Blue for the last five years, Potter has spent several years preparing for his new position.
“For about three years, I’ve been working on an advanced study program through the University of Maine,” said Potter, who turns 40 in August. “I completed an internship in superintendency in Waterville last summer, and I was feeling like I was ready to take the next step. And this opportunity came along.”
The new job will also bring Potter closer to his home in Waterville, which, like Windsor, is in Kennebec County, and allow him to carpool to work with his wife, a teacher at Erskine Academy in South China.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “A lot of good things are happening over there, and some things that the board would like to see worked on, and it just happened to be a good match.”
When looking back on his time at Mt. Blue, Potter stayed positive in his reflections.
“When you’re running a school of 900-plus students and 75 staff, there are always issues, there’s no question about that,” he said. “But I think the school system really supports the school well, and the (school) board supports the school well. … When there’s a demonstrated need for something, they really work hard to make sure it happens.”
Potter also pointed to several programs that were instituted during his time, including the implementation of in-school suspensions; the Extended School Year Program, a six-week credit recovery program for students; and the creation of career-preparation requirements for all graduating students.
Potter said he leaves with little regret, but did state that if he were returning to the school, two of his main objectives would be to try to get the high school accredited and to initiate the Shared Leadership Model, a more structured forum designed to increase discussion between different members of the school community.
As for the future, Potter didn’t close the door on a return to the principal’s desk down the road, but made it clear that for now his sights are set on his new job.
“My hometown is in Waterville and I kind of hope at some point the path will lead there. But right now, I’m looking forward to this position,” he said. “And like anything, if it’s a great match and I enjoy it and it’s rewarding, I could stay there until I retire.”
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