Page 3 - Newsletter_Winter_2021

RSU 29 Selects County Native for Next

Superintendent

By Joseph Cyr ‘89
Staff Writer and Asst. Editor of the County Papers

HOULTON , Maine -- The RSU 29 board has looked to an
Aroostook County native to be its next superintendent.

Richard “Rick” Lyons, a native of Masardis, was selected
as the next superintendent during a special school board
meeting held Wednesday, June 23, via Zoom. He takes over
for outgoing superintendent Ellen Halliday on July 1.
Fred Grant, RSU 29 Board Chair and Richard Lyons, Superintendent
“While we had some excellent candidates, Rick's experience, of RSU 29
ability to tackle large projects successfully, depth of
knowledge, leadership skills and demonstrated passion for During his tenure as superintendent, Lyons has received
student success made him the clear choice,” board chairman several recognitions for his leadership skills including
Fred Grant said. “The board was unanimous in supporting Outstanding Leadership (2004), Maine Superintendent
him and we feel very fortunate to have a superintendent of of the Year (2004), and the Distinguished School
his caliber joining our SAD 29 team.” Superintendent Award (2007).
He has officiated basketball and is a lifetime runner having
During his tenure as completed more than 40 marathons. Lyons is on the graduate
faculty of the University of Maine and has taught numerous
superintendent, Lyons has courses in educational leadership.
received several recognitions for He and his wife, Patricia, now live in Portage. His wife was a

his leadership skills ... corporate banker and is a former schoolteacher. The couple
has an adult son and a daughter and three grandchildren.

Lyons’ educational career spans more than three decades. For
the past year he has served as the interim superintendent for
RSU 8 (Vinalhaven) as well as the interim superintendent for
the state’s Unorganized Territories. Dear Houlton Alumni Association,

Prior to that, he served as the superintendent for RSU 22 I am extremely grateful to be the
(Hampden) -- a post he held from July 1992 until June recipient of the Henry, Elizabeth &
2020. He retired from RSU 22 in 2015 but returned to the Janet White Scholarship. Thank you
district after a one-month separation to guide that district for so much for choosing me. This award
another five years. has relieved much of my financial
stress. Because of your generosity
Lyons began his educational career as a teacher in St. Albans, I will be able to put aside more
Vermont, in 1975. He joined his hometown school, SAD 45 financial worries, and really focus
(Washburn), serving as a teacher in that district from July on my environmental studies at the
1976 until June 1978 before becoming a principal in SAD 1 University of Maine. I cannot thank
(Presque Isle) from July 1979 to June 1990. you enough for this generous gift.
Sincerely,
His first superintendent position came in July 1990 when he
was named the head of SAD 68 (Dover-Foxcroft), where he Alyssa Abbotoni ‘20
remained for two years before joining the Hampden school
district.

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