BRUNSWICK

Maine Region Ten Technical High School Director Barry Lohnes will soon be stepping down.

A Lewiston native, Lohnes served in the Marines in the 1960s. He holds a degree from the University of Maine and taught history and English at Monmouth Academy. He has resided in Topsham since 1977.

Prior to joining R10, Lohnes served as assistant principal at Brunswick High School and as Windham High School principal. Later, he became owner of Sports East at the Topsham Fair Mall for 17 years. “I enjoyed it, but I longed to return to education,” he said.

He returned to Monmouth to teach before becoming assistant director at R10 in 2004 before becoming director in 2007.

Lohnes recently spoke with The Times Record about his career path, his educational philosophy, R10’s place in the community, and plans for retirement at the end of the academic year.

Times Record: How did you come into your current position?

Barry Lohnes: I’ve always enjoyed working with students, and by nature I’m a positive thinker, and I do believe that I can be influential in prompting and motivating students to be successful in the educational process. It’s a difficult job, but I think we have been successful here. We’ve hired some wonderful people.

I think the students all realize we’re pulling for them very hard. My philosophy has been to overwhelm students with respect.

TR: How would you describe R10’s role in the community?

BL: We feel you would find misconception in the community, still, about our role. There are still community members out there that feel we are a school for tough, hard-to-reach students. When they come in here, they’re really surprised how tranquil, how peaceful the school is, and how well students get along with each other.

We do have a few re-entry students from the criminal justice system, and we do have very high-achieving students that go on to postsecondary education with a good deal of success.

TR: How has R10 changed during your tenure?

BL: Before I arrived, there was a lot of hiring of “safe” candidates. Promoting came automatically. That no longer happens, although we do have some very good people who have come up from the ranks. That’s a delicate issue.

The school is much more positive. We do promote strong relationships with parents.

We teach parents how to write the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and we lobby very hard for scholarship money for them. It’s been very difficult. A lot of the indigent parents have a hard time coming in with their tax forms, because they may feel ashamed. But I think we’re cracking that issue, and we have more and more parents coming in.

TR: What’s your proudest accomplishment as R10’s director?

BL: Consistency in dealing with students and staff. Appreciating the talents of students and staff, and letting them know how valuable they are, and how much potential they have.

I don’t think my voice has risen since I’ve been here, because I know that tempers break trust. Even though I may have felt like it, I know it destroys relationships. I think that’s part of the consistency. When students mess up, I do not hold grudges.

TR: What are you planning for your retirement?

BL: I’m a writer, for one thing. I had a book published last fall (“River of Screaming Souls”). That one was fiction. I have written history before. I would certainly like to continue writing.

I’d like to serve students more, in some form, whether teaching as an adjunct at a community college or interim administrator.

jswinconeck@timesrecord.com