FREEPORT – If you follow Bob Lyman’s rule of thumb, the best way to ensure job security is to take an interim position.

Lyman is retiring from his post as executive director of Freeport Community Services later this month, which, for the moment, completes a lifetime of teaching and community service. Lyman was hired as the interim director five years ago, a strictly fill-in position, he said, that blossomed into a full-time job.

“While working as a fill-in, I helped to write the job description and define the type of person we were looking for,’ said Lyman, 68. “I guess it was me all along.”

Lyman said the nonprofit community organization was in a tight financial situation when he took over.

“Our services were more and more in demand, but we needed to find ways to grow our revenue,’ said Lyman. “We achieved that largely by expanding our thrift shop and building up the resources and the programs.”

During his tenure, Lyman oversaw the daily operations of the community-run organization, which supplies direct services for residents in Pownal and Freeport through a food pantry, community heating oil fund, rental vouchers, teen center, and other needs-based programs.

Lyman’s background is primarily in education, and he started out as a physical education teacher in Arlington, Mass., in 1966. At roughly the same time, he started the Arlington Outdoor Education program, and by 1971 he was running an outdoor science center for all schools in the Arlington district.

“I provided science kits for all the teachers,” said Lyman. “The kits came equipped with little critters, all ready to go.”

After marrying a woman from Maine, Lyman moved to Rangeley, where his outdoor education programs, a spiritual precursor to Outward Bound, had relocated.

“We focused on kids learning about themselves through the out of doors, about the out of doors, and the beauty of the out of doors,” said Lyman. “There was a lot of physical challenge stuff, like mountain climbing, ropes courses, and putting kids in unfamiliar places and seeing how they could adapt. The kids loved it.”

Lyman said one particular challenge was called the “get-lost hike,” where kids would be blindfolded and dropped off in a remote area and have to find their way back.

“We’d say, ‘Here you go, here’s a compass and map, now figure it out,’” said Lyman. “I’d tell them, ‘We have three hours until dinner. See you there.’”

After running the program until 1976, Lyman returned to his educational roots as a teaching principal at the Lincoln School in Springvale, even as he served as president of the Maine Teachers Union, a dual role that did not please his senior administrators, Lyman recalled with a laugh. Eventually, he found his way to Freeport in 1983 as principal of the Morse Street School, a pre-kindergarten through second-grade school.

“Two years later my boss left, the superintendent of the Freeport schools,’ said Lyman. “They came to me and asked if I would be interested in the job. I wasn’t interested at first, but we had a brand new high school principal, a brand new middle school principal and the special education director was dying of cancer, so that left me as the most experienced. So I became interim superintendent for the next six months, and two years later took over the position for the next 17 years. Sort of like the fox watching the henhouse.”

During his tenure, the Freeport school system grew rapidly and added or expanded six schools. In 2004, Lyman retired from the Freeport job, but a week later was hired as the interim superintendent of the Cape Elizabeth school system.

“It was supposed to be six months, but it turned into a year plus,” said Lyman. “I guess I’m not good at retiring.”

After leaving Cape Elizabeth, Lyman then spent months helping the Chebeague Island School secede from School Administrative District 51 and Cumberland in a consulting role. He helped write their education plan and helped with negotiations.

As he enters his final few weeks as director, Lyman understands the mission of Freeport Community Services is more important now than ever before.

“We had 336 unduplicated clients take advantage of our food pantry this year. That’s up from 214 last year, “ said Lyman. “It’s people who never expected to be out of work this long and in many cases were donors when times were better. The jobs are not coming back as fast as the stock market is recovering.”

Lyman said he would give it his best this time to stay retired, and plans to travel and spend time with his four grown children and five grandchildren.

“We’re really going to miss Bob,” said Sue Mack, community outreach director for Freeport Community Services. “He was the right person in the leadership role we needed. It’s been a great five years and I hate to see him go.”

Executive Assistant Kim Hudak, who has worked directly with Lyman for three years, said she will miss him, as well.

“Bob’s been great for the organization,” said Hudak. “It’ll be hard to replace him.”

A new executive director will be named soon, Lyman said.

Freeport Community Services Executive Director Bob Lyman, in his Freeport office on a recent morning, will retire at the end of the month after five years at the helm of nonprofit agency. He’s also a former Freeport school superintendent.

FREEPORT – If you follow Bob Lyman’s rule of thumb, the best way to ensure job security is to take an interim position.

Lyman is retiring from his post as executive director of Freeport Community Services later this month, which, for the moment, completes a lifetime of teaching and community service. Lyman was hired as the interim director five years ago, a strictly fill-in position, he said, that blossomed into a full-time job.

“While working as a fill-in, I helped to write the job description and define the type of person we were looking for,’ said Lyman, 68. “I guess it was me all along.”

Lyman said the nonprofit community organization was in a tight financial situation when he took over.

“Our services were more and more in demand, but we needed to find ways to grow our revenue,’ said Lyman. “We achieved that largely by expanding our thrift shop and building up the resources and the programs.”

During his tenure, Lyman oversaw the daily operations of the community-run organization, which supplies direct services for residents in Pownal and Freeport through a food pantry, community heating oil fund, rental vouchers, teen center, and other needs-based programs.

Lyman’s background is primarily in education, and he started out as a physical education teacher in Arlington, Mass., in 1966. At roughly the same time, he started the Arlington Outdoor Education program, and by 1971 he was running an outdoor science center for all schools in the Arlington district.

“I provided science kits for all the teachers,” said Lyman. “The kits came equipped with little critters, all ready to go.”

After marrying a woman from Maine, Lyman moved to Rangeley, where his outdoor education programs, a spiritual precursor to Outward Bound, had relocated.

“We focused on kids learning about themselves through the out of doors, about the out of doors, and the beauty of the out of doors,” said Lyman. “There was a lot of physical challenge stuff, like mountain climbing, ropes courses, and putting kids in unfamiliar places and seeing how they could adapt. The kids loved it.”

Lyman said one particular challenge was called the “get-lost hike,” where kids would be blindfolded and dropped off in a remote area and have to find their way back.

“We’d say, ‘Here you go, here’s a compass and map, now figure it out,’” said Lyman. “I’d tell them, ‘We have three hours until dinner. See you there.’”

After running the program until 1976, Lyman returned to his educational roots as a teaching principal at the Lincoln School in Springvale, even as he served as president of the Maine Teachers Union, a dual role that did not please his senior administrators, Lyman recalled with a laugh. Eventually, he found his way to Freeport in 1983 as principal of the Morse Street School, a pre-kindergarten through second-grade school.

“Two years later my boss left, the superintendent of the Freeport schools,’ said Lyman. “They came to me and asked if I would be interested in the job. I wasn’t interested at first, but we had a brand new high school principal, a brand new middle school principal and the special education director was dying of cancer, so that left me as the most experienced. So I became interim superintendent for the next six months, and two years later took over the position for the next 17 years. Sort of like the fox watching the henhouse.”

During his tenure, the Freeport school system grew rapidly and added or expanded six schools. In 2004, Lyman retired from the Freeport job, but a week later was hired as the interim superintendent of the Cape Elizabeth school system.

“It was supposed to be six months, but it turned into a year plus,” said Lyman. “I guess I’m not good at retiring.”

After leaving Cape Elizabeth, Lyman then spent months helping the Chebeague Island School secede from School Administrative District 51 and Cumberland in a consulting role. He helped write their education plan and helped with negotiations.

As he enters his final few weeks as director, Lyman understands the mission of Freeport Community Services is more important now than ever before.

“We had 336 unduplicated clients take advantage of our food pantry this year. That’s up from 214 last year, “ said Lyman. “It’s people who never expected to be out of work this long and in many cases were donors when times were better. The jobs are not coming back as fast as the stock market is recovering.”

Lyman said he would give it his best this time to stay retired, and plans to travel and spend time with his four grown children and five grandchildren.

“We’re really going to miss Bob,” said Sue Mack, community outreach director for Freeport Community Services. “He was the right person in the leadership role we needed. It’s been a great five years and I hate to see him go.”

Executive Assistant Kim Hudak, who has worked directly with Lyman for three years, said she will miss him, as well.

“Bob’s been great for the organization,” said Hudak. “It’ll be hard to replace him.”

A new executive director will be named soon, Lyman said.

Freeport Community Services Executive Director Bob Lyman, in his Freeport office on a recent morning, will retire at the end of the month after five years at the helm of nonprofit agency. He’s also a former Freeport school superintendent.