Opting to end his career on a high note, AOS 93 Supt. Bob Bouchard formally submitted his resignation to the AOS 93 school board Nov. 16.
Bouchard’s peers named him Maine’s Superintendent of the Year in October. His last official day on the job will be June 30, 2011.
“These last 10 years have been the most rewarding in my working career,” Bouchard wrote in a letter to the board. “I have had the privilege of working in communities and with people who highly value public education and who have challenged [me] to do my very best.
“The teachers and staff in our schools and here at the Central Office are talented and dedicated and I will miss working with them; they are truly dedicated to providing the best for our children.
“Moreover, I will miss working with the board here in AOS 93. I have said repeatedly over the past several years that this job would be nearly impossible were it not for boards that truly have children in the forefront and are committed to working cooperatively to do what is right and best.”
AOS 93 board chairman Parker Renelt said the board accepted Bouchard’s resignation with reluctance. Bouchard is leaving “big shoes to fill,” Renelt said.
“Obviously, I am quite saddened,” Renelt said. “I wasn’t completely surprised because I knew it was going to come one of these days. Bob has done an outstanding job and he is going to be missed a great deal… He has been here a long time, 10 years. He led us through the consolidation effort and he’s done wonderful things in Jefferson.”
The board will likely form a 10 to 12-person search committee in January and begin interviews in February with hopes of making an offer to Bouchard’s successor in May, Renelt said.
“It’s going to be a tough search, but quite frankly the last one was a tough search,” Renelt said.
Although he is stepping down, Bouchard said he has no plans to leave the area. His wife Joan plans to continue working in the Boothbay Region Elementary School as a reading specialist. Professionally, Bouchard said he has no plans for the immediate future.
“I don’t have any specific plans right now,” he said. “We will spend some time in Florida; we have a little condo down there, but I intend to stay here. We found the place that we love and [it] is right here.”
Bouchard started his administrative career as an assistant principal and then principal in Medway. He was then named superintendent of Union 113 that includes Medway, East Millinocket and Woodville.
Bouchard was named superintendent of Union 74 and Great Salt Bay CSD in 2001 and led that district through the process of forming AOS 93 in 2009.
AOS 93 serves the towns of Bremen, Damariscotta, Newcastle, Bristol, Nobleboro, South Bristol and Jefferson.
