MECHANIC FALLS – On Tuesday, July 1, Elm Street School Principal Mary Martin assumes the role of president of the Maine Principals’ Association.

“It is an honor to be selected to represent my peers and to have the opportunity to participate in such a respected and influential educational organization,” Martin said.

This past year Martin got her feet wet serving the MPA as president-elect.

“My participation in MPA has provided me with an opportunity to understand and to provide input on educational issues at a national and state level,” she said.

MPA Executive Director Dick Durost said he, along with everyone else who has come in contact with Martin during her year as president-elect, has been thoroughly impressed with her work ethic and dedication.

“I know she will represent the principals and students of Maine extremely well,” Durost said.

Martin is about as Maine – and Mechanic Falls for that matter – as she could possibly be.

She grew up in Lubec and Mechanic Falls, attended the Elm Street School from third to ninth grade, and graduated from Edward Little High School in Auburn. Mary and her husband, Forrest, a Mechanic Falls native, raised two daughters, Sarah and Amy, who also went through the Elm Street School and Edward Little, and reside in Mechanic Falls.

“Wherever I go I say I’m from Elm Street School in Mechanic Falls and get the word out this is a great place,” Martin said.

Martin has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from USM, and has devoted her adult life to education.

In 1974, Martin started as a reading specialist and classroom teacher in SAD 17. After 10 years, she returned to the Elm Street School and for 13 years taught grades one and two before becoming principal 11 years ago.

In 2005, Martin was named Maine’s National Distinguished Principal, which, Martin explained, translates to elementary principal of the year for Maine, an honor she would share with others.

“Simply put, the Elm Street School is a good school because of the people who are here. That’s all the people: committed teachers, students and a supportive community. There’s a sense of connection here at the school,” she said.

One of Martin’s first acts as MPA president will be to establish some connections in Washington, D.C.

“Last July and again this year, I will attend the National Leaders’ Conference in Washington. I will join 400 principals in taking a unified message to Congress and have an opportunity to meet the main delegation,” Martin said.

She noted that while most education funding comes from local and state sources, federal policy decisions are a huge driving force and she is looking forward to the opportunity to say face to face, “This is the impact of what you do in Washington on what we do at the Elm Street School.”

In August, Martin said, the MPA’s Interscholastic and Professional Management Committee will meet to determine the direction the MPA takes in response to the flurry of educational legislation passed in recent years at the state level, particularly in areas such as Maine Learning Results, graduation requirements, and school consolidation.

“As consolidation changes the way schools are organized and decreases the number of superintendents, the role of the principal may also change. As an association, we will need to monitor these changes and to provide principals with the support they need to weather these changes,” said Martin.

Adding the responsibilities of MPA president to her already full plate will be a challenge, Martin admitted, but one that will be manageable because of the level of support offered by MPA staff, colleagues at Elm Street School – especially assistant principal Arthur Reed – and Union 29 administration.

“As an organization that supports principals, MPA recognizes that my first priority is the students and staff of Elm Street School,” Martin explained.

Martin, who is well known for her presence at all significant school events, said she has been provided with a schedule of MPA meetings and obligations for 2008-2009.

“As I schedule important school activities I can work around MPA dates so I won’t miss plays, concerts, dances and other events,” Martin said.

Union 29 Superintendent Dennis Duquette said he is sure any time the district might lose by Martin’s absence will be more than made up by what she brings back to the Union 29 school system.

“We all benefit from her hard work and we all will benefit. Mary Martin is a keeper,” he said.

Family time will be more precious than ever, Martin speculated, and her kayak will probably be in dry dock for the year.