TOPSHAM

As School Administrative District 75 staff prepares for the new school year to begin next Tuesday, students in Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell and Topsham can expect to see some new faces.

“We have new teachers in every school this year,” School Administrative District 75 Superintendent Brad Smith said.

He said the district has known for several years that the demographics of its staff, especially in grades 6 to 12, would mean many retirements over the course of a few years.

“As sad as I am to see our veteran teachers and support staff retire in the spring, I am delighted each fall to see the caliber of people who join our system taking their positions,” Smith said.

“We have a new special education director, Heidi O’Leary, who used to work at Mt. Ararat High School,” Smith said. She takes the place of Patrick Moore who retired from the district.

Smith said O’Leary has worked as the special education director at Biddeford and Alternative Organizational Structure 92, which covers Waterville, Winslow and Vassalboro.

“She is so excited to be back in our district,” he said.

According to Smith, O’Leary has hired two administrators who will coordinate special education services at the high school and middle school.

Staff training

Teachers and some support staff have been at schools for the past three days preparing for the start of the new year, with training focusing on a variety of topics.

“My message to the district staff yesterday was around bullying and the importance of teaching our students about a safe and respectful environment,” Smith said. “That is an issue facing every school district. And that’s a challenge compounded by social media. But we are educators, and if we all commit to teaching about respect and civility, we can make a big difference in the way our students treat one another.”

Teachers are focusing on proficiency based education while the district works toward more consistency regarding graduation standards.

According to the Maine Department of Education, proficiency based education is designed to ensure that students acquire the knowledge and skills essential to success in school, higher education, careers and adult life. If students struggle to meet minimum standards, they receive additional instruction and academic support. Students are required to meet standards before they can advance in their education. This is the first year students must demonstrate proficiency before they are awarded a high school diploma.

In SAD 75, the move to proficiency based education is a K-12 issue, Smith said, and not limited to the high school staff.

“I am very proud of the way our teachers and administrators are responding to this shift in thinking about student learning,” Smith said.

dmoore@timesrecord.com