Parents and students told Gorham’s school administration and School Committee this week that they don’t want the Gorham Middle School principal to leave for another school.

The expressions of support came in the days after a Cape Elizabeth committee searching for a new principal there announced that Dennis Duquette, the Gorham Middle School principal, was one of two finalist for the position.

Duquette told members of the Cape Elizabeth committee Thursday that leaving Gorham wouldn’t be easy because of the relationships he had with many children and parents there. But he said he was considering leaving Gorham because of a difference in philosophy with the new school administration.

About 20 parents came to the Gorham School Committee meeting Wednesday, after reading about Duquette’s potential departure in the American Journal, to tell members of the committee they didn’t want to see Duquette leave. More parents met with Gorham Superintendent Ted Sharp Friday morning to express the same sentiment.

Kelley Skillin-Smith, a parent of a middle school student, told the Gorham School Committee she was alarmed and saddened by the news. “He’s been a positive influence on my children,” she said.

Lisa Shiers, another parent, said Gorham Middle School students attempted a boycott of classes Thursday before Duquette spoke to them over the school’s intercom. She said students were circulating a petition.

Skillin-Smith also said students organized a letter-writing campaign in support of keeping Duquette in Gorham.

“The kids are very distraught, upset,” Shiers said.

Another parent, Jeff Douglas, urged the Gorham School Committee and Sharp to do everything they could to keep Duquette from leaving. It’s not a “black hole” today because of Dennis Duquette, Douglas said.

The news that Duquette could leave stunned the Gorham School Committee. A school committee member, Jason Libby, said on Wednesday that he was upset hearing from the American Journal about the possibility that Gorham might lose Duquette.

“I fully back Dennis,” Libby said.

Marie South, chairman of the Gorham School Committee, thanked the parents for attending. “It’s obvious that Dennis has a great deal of respect,” South said.

Sharp said he met with Duquette on Friday to convey the message that Gorham wants him to stay. “I’ve met with Dennis to share the strong sentiments of Gorham that he remain as middle school principal,” Sharp said following the meeting. “It was a good meeting.”

Duquette met with parents on Thursday afternoon at Cape Elizabeth Middle School. When asked what his reasons for leaving Gorham Middle School were, Duquette said it was the hardest decision he has needed to make.

Duquette said he doesn’t work for a paycheck; he loves the work. “I feel awful,” he said of his potential departure from Gorham. “I’ll let down hundreds of parents and kids.”

Duquette became principal at Gorham Middle School when the new school opened in the fall of 2003 under then Superintendent Michael Moore. “When I came to Gorham Middle School, I thought I’d be there forever,” said Duquette, who was originally drawn to the area because of the beauty of Sebago Lake and the region.

The Gorham School Committee hired Sharp last summer as superintendent. Sharp replaced Moore, who announced his retirement a year ago but stayed as an interim superintendent until Sharp arrived.

Duquette told members of the Cape search committee Thursday that when the administration changed in Gorham he realized there was a difference in vision and philosophy between him and the new administration. “I mean no ill will towards anyone at anytime,” stressed Duquette. “But, our visions are totally different.”

“The stress and strain that has been bred by the new administration is unhealthy,” Duquette said.

Responding to Duquette’s comments Friday, Sharp said Duquette hadn’t expressed that sentiment when he met with him earlier that morning. He said he thought he and Duquette shared the same philosophy on middle school education.

Sharp said he didn’t feel his style of leadership was stressful. “I set high expectations for myself and people,” Sharp said. “I found he’s measuring up to expectations. I couldn’t be more pleased with his work.”

Sharp said he was “a little taken back” to hear about Duquette’s comments in Cape Elizabeth and wondered about the context in which they were said. “I have respect for him, and I’m looking forward to working with him,” Sharp said.

Sharp said that the Gorham School Committee, parents and he are all trying to keep Duquette in Gorham. Sharp said Friday’s meeting with parents was an effort to “marshal our forces” to let Duquette know that they wanted him to stay.

“The decision is his, and we hope he’ll be here for many months and years ahead,” Sharp said.

Duquette is a finalist for the Cape post along with Steven Connolly, an assistant principal at Portland High School. The Cape Elizabeth committee hopes to make its recommendation for principal following April vacation.

Current Staff Writer Whit Richardson contributed to this story.

Dennis Duquette