Michael Toomey, assistant principal at Philip W. Sugg Middle School in Lisbon, high-fives students Tuesday after an assembly honoring him as Maine’s 2025 Assistant Principal of the Year. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

LISBON — Philip W. Sugg Middle School Assistant Principal Michael Toomey was presented with the Maine Principals’ Association’s 2025 Assistant Principal of the Year award Tuesday afternoon.

Over 300 students and staff assembled in the school gymnasium for the surprise announcement that one of their own would be honored as Maine’s best. Waves of excitement went through the crowd of sixth, seventh and eighth graders as Principal Ryan McKenney, with the help of Holly Blair, MPA’s executive director for the professional division, announced Toomey’s latest accomplishment.

“Mr. Toomey ignites our inspiration, fuels our compassion for others and highlights, when needed, the importance of staying between the guardrails on the middle school road of life,” McKenney said as Toomey stood among students and teachers.

“He inspires each of us to be more than we often thought we were capable of,” McKenney continued. “He inspired me to be more than I thought I was capable of. Today, we recognize and congratulate Mr. Toomey as Maine’s Assistant Principal of the Year.”

The people erupted with applause.

In a statement from the MPA, Blair wrote that Toomey started career in Virginia after completing his bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education in 2006.

He began teaching in Virginia in 2008 and took on roles as a special education teacher and behavior management specialist while there. He moved to Pennsylvania where he completed his master’s degree in educational development and strategies at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre.

Toomey came to Maine in 2018 as a special education teacher at Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham. In 2020, he was hired as Sugg Middle School assistant principal and athletic director.

“The MPA is proud to recognize Michael Toomey for his exceptional contributions as an assistant principal,” Blair said, adding that he cultivates a positive school culture and climate, always focusing on student needs. “Michael connects with every student, inspiring them to recognize their potential as leaders, even those who may not see it in themselves.”

After all the high-fives and congratulations, Toomey said his award says as much about the successes of the school administration and student body as it does about him. Success never happens in a vacuum, he said. It is the strengths of those around him which have created the kind of environment needed to succeed, he said.

“As soon as I was notified that I was the recipient of this the first thing that came to mind was all of the things that we have done as a school,” Toomey said. “It really is a team award. I can do all the things that I feel I’m good at and strong with, but none of that matters if the people in this team don’t do their part, too.”

Toomey also thanked the student leadership team, known as the Captains Council, which he started when he joined the administrative team.

“All of our efforts with our community service projects and our charitable efforts — going through that final round allowed me to highlight that student leadership group in particular which is a really proud moment for me.”

Toomey will be honored at the MPA annual Night of Excellence in May.