For the third time in six years, a Lincoln County school superintendent has been named Maine’s Superintendent of the Year.
According to a press release by the Maine School Management Association, AOS 93 Superintendent Steve Bailey recently received the honor for his commitment to helping all students achieve and his work through the state’s superintendents’ association to provide effective and relevant professional development to his colleagues.
Bailey was selected by a committee of his peers, including former Superintendent of the Year recipients, Maine School Superintendents Association officers, and presidents of Maine’s superintendent regions.
Bailey joins previous Lincoln County Superintendents of the Year Eileen King (AOS 98, 2008), and Bailey’s own predecessor, now retired AOS 93 Superintendent Bob Bouchard (2010).
“It’s very much an honor to be recognized, and it’s a wonderful thing to be able to share this with them,” Bailey said.
Bailey received the award Oct. 22 at the Maine School Superintendents Association’s annual meeting in Augusta.
Association Past President David Murphy, who nominated Bailey for the honor, praised his dedication to excellence.
“Steve Bailey has developed a reputation among his peers in Maine as a visionary educational leader and strong advocate for 21st century learning. His commitment to both his school district and our state association is without comparison,” Murphy said.
According to the press release from the Maine School Management Association, Bailey started his career in education as a teacher and then went on to be a principal in South Portland, earning recognition as a National Distinguished Principal. He was director of curriculum and then assistant superintendent in South Portland before taking over as superintendent in AOS 93, also known as the Central Lincoln County School System.
AOS 93 includes the towns of Bremen, Damariscotta, Newcastle, Bristol, Nobleboro, South Bristol, and Jefferson.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the teachers, faculty, and staff” of AOS 93, Bailey said. “It’s a terrific honor to be working with them. The students are very interested in work, and find joy in being at school and learning with each other.”
What motivates him in his work is the opportunity to provide a positive influence in the lives of students, families, and staff.
“I want to improve the learning situation and opportunities for all students and raise the awareness and urgency for change so that our public schools are the schools of choice,” Bailey said.
In his district, Bailey has worked hard to close the achievement gap among students, particularly those under special individual education plans, and he is getting results. Students identified as needing help based on test scores and teacher observation are given clearly communicated goals and help to meet those goals.
“The strategy employed is not new. It is not earth-shattering. It is the application of data-informed decision-making to help make learning deliberate, intentional, and purposeful,” he said.
Bailey said his role is to focus the work being done by teachers and principals by emphasizing the data; continue the development of appropriate strategies for each learner; and debrief with principals regarding the success their teachers are having.
According to the press release, Bailey said the greatest issue facing public education today is lack of consensus at the local, state, and federal level around the tenet that all students deserve a quality education regardless of their background.
“Privilege begets privilege, while not enough people consistently support the notion that all students, regardless of socio-economic status, should be provided equal opportunity,” Bailey said.
Bailey offered advice to those considering public school administration as a career. “Be a learner – the landscape is constantly changing; be a reader; be willing to be a model; observe, observe, observe; and, listen, listen, listen,” he said.
“I once thought you could be apolitical as an administrator. How quickly that idea faded away. Being a ‘principle-centered leader’ took center stage, with all decisions being based on what is in the best interest of the student,” he said.
