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SAD 36 directors voted unanimously – of the members present – to give Superintendent Terry Despres a $5,000 stipend for serving as interim high school principal.

Despres’ salary as superintendent is about $83,000.

Despres, who was initially hesitant to take the stipend, said Tuesday, he was accepting it with care.

The district saved about $25,000 by him stepping in as interim.

“From the board’s perspective,” Chairman Ashley O’Brien said, “It is a token for the extra effort above and beyond his own job.”

SAD 44 principal to step into LFHS

LIVERMORE FALLS – Shawn Lambert, principal of Telstar Regional High School in Bethel, has accepted a 2-year contract as principal of the Livermore Falls High School, SAD 36 Superintendent Terry Despres said Tuesday.

Principal Search Committee members – Tom Marshall, Sue St. Pierre and Michelle Merrill, all educators at Livermore Falls high – made the announcement to fellow staff members after school Tuesday.

Lambert made the announcement to his staff in Bethel as well on Tuesday.

SAD 36 Chairman Ashley O’Brien and Despres, interim principal at the high school, were also present at Livermore Falls High School for the staff announcement.

The announcement wasn’t expected to be made until Sept. 12, but word was getting out in the Bethel area, Despres said.

Lambert of New Gloucester has been the principal of the Bethel school for four years. Before that he was assistant principal at Lewiston High School.

Marshall said he was impressed with Lambert when he met him at a meeting prior to consideration of Lambert as principal.

“I just can’t tell you how impressed I was with him,” Marshall said to his colleagues. “I think you guys will be really impressed.”

Marshall said that Lambert is team-oriented.

St. Pierre said Lambert considers himself a facilitator.

“He was very quick, if something positive happened, to give his staff credit,” she said.

Lambert also commented, St. Pierre said, “That he recognized a real sense of community in our students. I’m excited. I think it’s going to be a good mix for everybody.”

Merrill said she thought Lambert was very open and honest.

Despres will continue acting as principal until Lambert, who was unavailable for comment Tuesday, comes on board.

Despres said he’s asked that the transaction take place on Nov. 6, because it’s Despres’ birthday, but that is not officially agreed upon.

Despres said Lambert will be paid about $64,000 for working the partial school year.

What drew Lambert to SAD 36, Despres said, was that he saw great potential in what “we wanted to do.”

The district is in different stages of an accreditation process and is working to increase student aspirations and looking into building a new middle/high school in the future.

Lambert is also planning to mentor under Despres as he works through a certificate of advanced studies to receive a superintendent certification.

Lambert attended St. Lawrence University in New York and transferred to Colby College in Waterville where he received a bachelor of arts degree.

He also received a master’s in education from the University of Maine in Orono.

Lambert taught English for seven years in several facilities from high school to Mid-Maine Technical Center in Waterville. He was also an English Department chairman at Lewiston High School and a mentor for University of New England, whose faculty mentors others going into education administration. He has served on several committees for the Maine Principal Association as well, Despres said.

Lambert, who is well-versed in technology, specifically distance learning, lives in New Gloucester with his wife and two children.

Despres told the high school staff that there will be an opportunity for them to meet Lambert and to talk to him before he comes on board.

Despres also commended the search committee for staying firm until they found the right candidate for students and school system.

SAD 44 Superintendent David Murphy said it was a great opportunity for Lambert to work as a principal and mentor under Despres.

“Shawn is a great administrator and will be a great central office administrator,” Murphy said.

Murphy said Lambert notified his staff Tuesday that he would be leaving SAD 44 to go to SAD 36.

“It was awkward, but change is change. Certainly, at the beginning of a school year, it is difficult. We’re working with SAD 36 to transition into it. It’s not like it’s going to happen tomorrow,” Murphy said.

He notified school board members, but had yet to begin looking for another secondary school principal.

Murphy said his goal is to make the transition happen as soon as possible but so that it can be done well.