Page 15 - Spring Summer 2023

Houlton Hires Veteran Local Educator

as Superintendent

By Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli,
Staff Writer for the Bangor Daily News
& Houlton Pioneer Times

HOULTON, Maine — A statewide search for an RSU 29
superintendent led the Houlton school district’s board
back to their own Joe Fagnant, a familiar face in local
education.

Fagnant, who has served RSU 29 for 27 years in many
roles, will begin his tenure as superintendent on July 1,
replacing transitional superintendent Rick Lyons, who
served for two years. Lyons’ contract ends in June.
“We are thrilled to have someone as experienced
as Joe lead RSU 29,” school board chairperson Erica
Peabody said on Wednesday. “In addition to Joe’s
varied educational experiences, he is very vested in our
local communities, serving in many capacities.” Joe Fagnant will become superintendent of RSU 29 this summer.
Credit: Joseph Cyr ‘89 / Houlton Pioneer Times
RSU 29 serves the towns of Houlton, Hammond,
Littleton, and Monticello. competitions in Boston and New York.
He founded and served as president of the Houlton
Fagnant has been in education for 30 years and spent
27 of those in RSU 29. Initially, he was the instrumental Community Arts Center, a private organization that
music teacher for grades 9-12 from 1993-2013, as well partnered with RSU 29 to renovate the Houlton Middle
as the K-12 Music Department chairperson. High School auditorium. The project raised $1.2 million
to invest into the performing arts facilities at the
In recent years Fagnant held multiple administrative school.
roles including director of adult and community
education, director of Northern Maine Community In 2008, Fagnant was a regional finalist for Maine
College in Houlton and director of operations for Teacher of the Year.
Houlton High School. Fagnant has a bachelor’s degree in music education
from the University of Maine, a master’s degree in
“It’s very exciting,” said Fagnant. “This gives me a
chance to put my leadership skills back into the school arts and letters from Southern Oregon University and
system. This brings together my community-wide a certificate in administration from the University of
vision for education in Houlton.” Maine at Farmington. He has completed additional
graduate work in adult education leadership courses at
Fagnant is also slated to head the Houlton Rotary Club Endicott College.
next year as its president and he chairs Vital Pathways,
a local nonprofit that offers community wellness The RSU 29 budget will be his biggest challenge, he
programs. said.
“We are working with a tough funding formula,” he
Combining his commitment to the community and his
long educational service, Fagnant said this new role said, pointing to increasing property valuations and a
brings his experiences all together. declining student population.
Fagnant lives in Houlton with his wife Heather, who
Under Fagnant’s direction, the Houlton high school
ensemble earned awards at state festivals and regional teaches social studies at Houlton Middle High School,
and his two daughters, Alison and Hannah.

www.houltonalumni.com 15