RUMFORD — Mountain Valley High School’s assistant principal has been
named one of the top three in the state by the Maine Principals’
Association.

Christopher Decker, 53, of Turner was nominated by Principal
Matt Gilbert and was interviewed by the association in Augusta.

Decker has been assistant principal at Mountain Valley for the past five years.
Before that, he was assistant principal at the middle school for six years. He taught elementary grades and
physical education in SAD 52 based in Turner for many years
before coming to Rumford. He is a graduate of the University of Maine.

“My focus is to help kids succeed,” Decker said. “I do a lot with at-risk students and dropouts.” 

Among the activities he has led is the construction of a canoe by high school students. The project is done after school and has been popular with students.

The finalist for assistant principal for 2010 is Julie Smyth of Loranger Middle School in Old Orchard Beach. She is a graduate of Bates College in Lewiston.

eadams@sunjournal.com

Mountain Valley High School Assistant Principal Chris Decker of Turner was named one of the top three assistant principals in the state by the Maine Principals’ Association. He has held the position at the Rumford school for five years.