WESTBROOK – Westbrook Superintendent of Schools Marc Gousse got drenched Tuesday morning after he accepted a challenge from high school science teacher Robert Johnson to complete the Ice Bucket Challenge, a fundraising phenomenon that has raised millions of dollars for the ALS Association.

Gousse was doused at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center in front of the entire school system’s staff, gathered for a first-day workshop.

The challenge was unannounced to school staff and came at the end of the morning assembly, which also honored teachers celebrating anniversaries of employment and welcomed new staff to the district.

Prior to bringing out two separate, 5-gallon buckets, Johnson said he had recently completed the challenge, and extended the invitation to Gousse, knowing the assembly could be an opportune time.

Johnson said he was hesitant at first to take part in the challenge, but knew that it was for a good cause. He said his wife, who works at Maine Medical Center, sees people afflicted with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and was “convinced that there couldn’t be a better cause to get people to dump some ice over their head, have a little fun, and raise some money.”

“That meant I got to nominate someone, and I thought this would be a great way to start the school year off to have Marc do this,” he said, followed by applause from the Westbrook school staff.

Wendy Carlton, the head custodian at Westbrook High School, had the honor of dumping the bucket on Gousse, standing from a stepladder. A lifelong fan of the New York Yankees, and the legendary Yankee first baseman Lou Gehrig, Gousse came from backstage wearing a Yankees jersey, in stark contrast to Johnson and Carlton, both representing the Boston Red Sox.

Gousse then announced his nominations for the challenge: Jeremy Ray, superintendent of Biddeford schools; Rick Lyons, superintendent of Regional School Unit 22, and Maria Dorn, director of Westbrook Community Services

Heading offstage, with the audience still applauding, Johnson said, “I’d knew he’d be a good sport about it.”

Later on Tuesday, Gousse said he was happy to participate, adding that he had talked with Carlton prior to the event about dumping the water.

“It’s probably not too hard to find someone who wants to dump water on me,” he said, laughing.

A bucket of ice water is dumped on Marc Gousse, Westbrook’s superintendent of schools, Tuesday morning after he accepted the Ice Bucket Challenge for the ALS Association. Wendy Carlton, the head custodian at Westbrook High School, does the honors.