WATERBORO — John Davis isn’t the sort of fellow who can look at a student who perhaps hasn’t performed well and say, “They had their chance” at education. That, he said Friday, just isn’t good enough, “getting by” isn’t good enough.

So Davis, who has been in the education field most of his working life and a school superintendent since 1987, is looking at modifying the education process to focus on all children ”“ to educate them at high levels ”“ to consider other ways to boost the education process even though resources are tight and are likely to be for some time.

Davis, who has been interim superintendent at Regional School Unit 57 since late September following the resignation of Frank Sherburne, was named superintendent at a school board meeting Wednesday.

Sherburne had been RSU 57 superintendent for three years and was previously the district’s special education director. He left to take up the superintendency in Maine School Administrative District 6.

School Board Chairwoman Karla Bergeron said the decision to hire Davis came as the board was starting to discuss how to approach the hiring of a full-time superintendent. They realized, she said, they were pleased with their interim.

An evaluation that involved both the school board and administration ultimately resulted in the decision by the board to hire Davis, who now has a contract through June, 2013.

Bergeron said the board chose Davis for his professionalism, maturity and willingness to hold people accountable.

“His educational philosophy is what we want,” she said.

Davis spent most of his career in Alaska. He and his family relocated to the Casco Bay area in 2007, where he has extended family and has spent summers all of his life.

Like many in Alaska, his working life started in the fish-processing industry. He became a teacher, moved on to principal and eventually to superintendent in the northern-most state in the U.S.

The challenges in RSU 57, which includes about 3,400 students from Alfred, Limerick, Lyman, Newfield, Shapleigh and Waterboro, are no different than in any other district, said Davis.

With tight resources, the district will have to figure out better ways to use technology to assist in the learning process, he said, and over time, how to do more with “fewer feet on the ground.”

Schools have to do more to help the young people who have special needs and also do more for gifted students, he added.

Throughout his interim superintendency at RSU 57, Davis has also been superintendent two days month at Jackman, an arrangement which will continue.

“The board had an opportunity to work with Superintendent Davis for several months and came to value his experience, his educational philosophy, his willingness to be accountable and to hold the organization accountable along with his desire to see our students and schools excel,” Bergeron said.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or twells@journaltribune.com.