FREEPORT – Beth Willhoite, principal of Freeport’s Mast Landing School, has a long-standing history with the school.

Willhoite and her husband John, who live in Freeport, raised their two now-grown children in town, with both going to Freeport schools from kindergarten through high school. In fact, her involvement with Mast Landing goes as far back as to when her own children went there, before she started working at the school. Son Peter now lives in Jackson Hole, Wyo., and daughter Sarah lives in New York City.

With that knowledge of the quality of education at Regional School Unit 5’s schools in general and Mast Landing in particular, it was an easy choice for Willhoite to come on board as the school’s principal when the position opened up several years ago.

With the new school year just getting under way, Willhoite took a few minutes to answer some questions from the Tri-Town Weekly.

Q: How long have you been principal at Mast Landing School?

A: This is my seventh year working at Mast Landing. When I first came (to the school), I was a teaching principal and this will be my fourth year being a full-time principal.

Q: What first brought you to Freeport/RSU5?

A: My children both went to Mast Landing School and I knew it was a place where I would love to work. There is something special about living and working in the same community. When the opportunity came up, I applied and was fortunate to get hired.

Q: What did you do for fun over summer vacation?

A: I went on a family vacation to Jackson Hole, Wyo., to visit my son. We hiked in the Tetons, canoed on the Snake River and went to Yellowstone. I also went to Baxter State Park for almost a week. It is one of my favorite places in the world. We hiked Mount Katahdin and did a lot of fishing and swimming.

Q: Are you excited to see the new school year begin?

A: I am so excited that school has finally started. The school is so quiet in the summer and I spend a lot of time working by myself doing paperwork and scheduling. It is much more fun with the school full of students and teachers.

Q: What is your favorite thing about being principal of Mast Landing School?

A: I am so proud to be the principal of Mast Landing School. Hands down, my favorite thing is our students. They are engaged and eager students and they always seem to come to school happy and with a smile on their faces.

Q: What are some of the new programs planned for the kids this school year?

A: Last spring, we planted an orchard and gardens and we are looking forward to adding to these projects this year. We also have a class that began working on a fitness course to complement our playground and this work will continue, as well. We also are continuing to work on curriculum, including the reader’s workshop model of reading and Everyday Math, specifically integrating more technology into our math instruction. We are also beginning discussions on our science and writing curriculums.

“It is much more fun with the school full of students and teachers,” says Mast Landing School Principal Beth Willhoite.