St. Cyr has experience in superintendent role (June 26, 2008)
By Renee Worthing
Staff Writer
The Sanford School Committee unanimously appointed Elizabeth St. Cyr as the new superintendent of schools on June 12.
St. Cyr will begin July 1, taking over from current Superintendent Jack Turcotte.
She has served as the Title 1 director, English as a second language director, and assessment coordinator.
Since 1979, St. Cyr has served as the district’s director of special education and served as the interim superintendent for seven months during the 2004-2005 school year when Superintendent Robert Kautz retired.
She said the school board asked if she would be interested in the superintendent position.
“My loyalty and passion is to the students that attend Sanford schools,” St. Cyr said, adding she has no plans to go anywhere else.
She said she anticipates a “smooth path” in her new duties.
She said the biggest challenges she will face will be keeping an eye on energy costs and the school’s budget.
“Keeping an eye on energy costs will be an occupation,” she said.
She said she also has burning desire to be involved in the construction of a comprehensive, four-year vocational high school program modeled after vocational high schools in Massachusetts.
“I’m very excited,” St. Cyr said.
Turcotte resigned his position shortly after the May 27 Town Meeting when the school budget was approved.
Turcotte, who served as Sanford School Department superintendent for three years, began his career teaching fifth grade at Market Street School in Fort Kent in 1969 before becoming a teaching principal in Wayne.
Turcotte said it was “just time” to move on to other endeavors.
He said he had mixed emotions about his decision, but feels some goals have been reached during his tenure, including two federal grants Sanford School Department recently received, including “Safe Schools Healthy Students,” a multi-tiered project to connect and support students, families, schools and the community. It addresses violence prevention, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, behavioral issues, mental health and early childhood social and emotional learning.
The school department also received a grant to participate in Dr. Ross Greene’s program, “Problem Solving – How to Help Staff and Students Deal with Interruptive Behavior.”
Staff Writer
The Sanford School Committee unanimously appointed Elizabeth St. Cyr as the new superintendent of schools on June 12.
St. Cyr will begin July 1, taking over from current Superintendent Jack Turcotte.
She has served as the Title 1 director, English as a second language director, and assessment coordinator.
Since 1979, St. Cyr has served as the district’s director of special education and served as the interim superintendent for seven months during the 2004-2005 school year when Superintendent Robert Kautz retired.
She said the school board asked if she would be interested in the superintendent position.
“My loyalty and passion is to the students that attend Sanford schools,” St. Cyr said, adding she has no plans to go anywhere else.
She said she anticipates a “smooth path” in her new duties.
She said the biggest challenges she will face will be keeping an eye on energy costs and the school’s budget.
“Keeping an eye on energy costs will be an occupation,” she said.
She said she also has burning desire to be involved in the construction of a comprehensive, four-year vocational high school program modeled after vocational high schools in Massachusetts.
“I’m very excited,” St. Cyr said.
Turcotte resigned his position shortly after the May 27 Town Meeting when the school budget was approved.
Turcotte, who served as Sanford School Department superintendent for three years, began his career teaching fifth grade at Market Street School in Fort Kent in 1969 before becoming a teaching principal in Wayne.
Turcotte said it was “just time” to move on to other endeavors.
He said he had mixed emotions about his decision, but feels some goals have been reached during his tenure, including two federal grants Sanford School Department recently received, including “Safe Schools Healthy Students,” a multi-tiered project to connect and support students, families, schools and the community. It addresses violence prevention, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, behavioral issues, mental health and early childhood social and emotional learning.
The school department also received a grant to participate in Dr. Ross Greene’s program, “Problem Solving – How to Help Staff and Students Deal with Interruptive Behavior.”
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