Page 8 - Newsletter Winter 2018

From the

HALLS

By Nancy Ketch ‘82; Photo by Joe Cyr ‘89

For the last several years, this column has been written added. He has served on a statewide committee focused
by Marty Bouchard ‘87, who served as Principal of on truancy and drop out prevention for 12 years and was
Houlton High School for 14 years. As he mentioned in the only superintendent serving on the committee.
his final column this summer, he has taken a job as the
principal of The Middle School of the Kennebunks. We Tim did his undergraduate studies at University of
thank Marty for his years of updating all of us on the Maine Presque Isle and received his Masters from UMF.
happenings at the high school and wish him all the best He has spent 12 years in the classroom as a teacher
in his new endeavor. of High School Social Studies, Advanced Placement
Government, US History and taught some dual
Houlton Middle/High School not only has a new enrollment courses allowing students to earn college
Principal, but also a new Assistant Principal, so for this credit. He has also done adjunct work for Northern
issue, From The Halls will serve as an introduction to Maine Community College. This is his 14th year
the new Administrators. with RSU 29 as he began coaching soccer one year
before accepting a teaching position with the district.
Jim Hodgkin, Principal, and Tim Tweedie, Assistant Tim is in his final season of coaching the Girls’ Varsity
Principal, have hit the ground running in their new Soccer Team. He guided the team last year to a State
positions. They have very similar philosophies about Championship. He has also coached middle school
education and also both have coaching and broadcasting basketball and softball, as well as JV baseball.
in their past.
When asked about their roles at the school, both Jim
For Jim, this is his 35th year in education and his 30th and Tim expressed that they want to be proactive and
in administration. He attended the University of Maine want to create a culture where students want to attend
Farmington (UMF) for his undergraduate studies and school or feel like they are missing out on something.
received his Masters and Certificate of Advanced Studies Jim said he feels he is the “Teacher of the Teachers”
(CAS) from the University of Maine. During his and sees a lot of his role as dealing with the public and
career, Jim has served as a teacher, a teaching principal supporting Tim. Tim indicated that he has a lot of
and, for 15 years, as a superintendent serving at RSU direct interaction with the students and staff and deals
4 in Litchfield and Mountain Valley in Rumford. The with the day-to-day concerns. They are both working on
post at Houlton is his return to a school based position building relationships with students who are struggling
and, with this job, he has been principal at every level academically to avoid truancy. “We are creating a
from Pre-K through 12th grade. In addition to being collaborative culture”, Jim remarked, adding that,
principal, Jim will also serve as Director of the newly “Teachers are professionals. This is a team and we can
formed Regional Service Center which is focusing on use the collective wisdom of the entire faculty and staff.”
the Bus Garage being used by Houlton, Hodgdon Both administrators noted that teaching has changed
and East Grand and will be working to develop an and working on soft skills is now a big part of the job
Alternative Education Program with Houlton, Hodgdon to have students be problem solvers who can work with
and Southern Aroostook. Jim is excited to be back others. In dealings with the students, Jim and Tim work
working in an environment where he can interact with with them together. “We care about what they say”, Tim
the students on a daily basis. With Houlton being a explained, adding that, “we have to get to the core of the
Middle/High School, now housing grades 6-12, he issue.” They both want Houlton Middle/High School to
noted that he really enjoys middle school students and, be the school of choice and noted that there are currently
in fact, he started his career as a middle school teacher. 110 students attending from outside the district.
“My passion is working on drop out prevention”, Jim

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