BANGOR, Maine — The Bangor School Committee, political representatives, city officials, school administrators and members of the public commended superintendent Betsy Webb for her recent selection as Maine Superintendent of the Year during a ceremony Thursday night.
City Council Chairman Nelson Durgin, who was tapped to lead the council on Wednesday, presented Webb with the key to the city.
Webb received the nod from the Maine School Superintendents Association in October.
“I am truly humbled by this recognition, your kind words, and your attendance this evening,” Webb said to the attendees, who packed the City Council Chambers. By the end of the proceedings, more than 20 speakers stepped up to offer their congratulations and thanks to Webb.
Speakers credited her with maintaining quality education results in a persistently difficult fiscal climate, as well as her work toward improving graduation rates and her “visionary leadership” of the system’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Academy.
“Through her careful fiscal management, we have maintained the core Bangor educational experience for our students and have never wavered from our goal of academic excellence for all students,” said Phyllis Guerette, school committee chairwoman, adding that Webb was a “poised and polished spokesperson” for Bangor’s schools.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins recorded a video message to congratulate Webb on her achievement.
“This recognition is a fitting tribute to Betsy’s total commitment to education, community involvement, professionalism and sound management,” Collins said.
Statements from Sen. Olympia Snowe, Rep. Mike Michaud, Commissioner of Education Stephen Bowen, and members of Maine’s Legislative delegation were read aloud during the ceremony.
Webb said the award is a reflection of the accomplishments of everyone involved in the school district — from the administrators and teachers to the students and their parents.
Maine School Management Association Executive Director Dale Douglas, who also was representing the Maine School Superintendents Association, said that while he appreciated the sentiment of Webb crediting the rest of the district, the MSSA gave the award based on personal accomplishment.
“This is about an award for individual leadership, this is being chosen by a committee of her peers … We need to realize this is really about what you’ve done,” Douglas said.
Douglas also said that this is the second time that two superintendents from the same school district have received the superintendent of the year — the first was Auburn’s school department. The other Bangor superintendent to win the award was James Doughty, who retired in 2000.
In their statements, both Guerette and school committee member Warren Caruso cited the same Aristotle quote: ““We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
“Superintendent Webb has the habit of excellence in everything she does,” Guerette said.
This pretty much causes me to lose all faith in City Government. You have to be kidding.
This self-congratulatory group does not represent what most of us would value.
By us, I assume you mean us troll commenters. Because clearly the elected majority feels otherwise.
Ms. Webb does not hold an elected position, although she is on the executive committee of the supts. assn. that gave the award, thus self-congratulatory group.
That is the problem with democracy . Go along with the majority . Do not get a dam about the ones who are done wrong by the system . . They get slightly higher test score but also a slightly higher drop out rate . But who cares about those kids anyways?
It’s even worse at the U.Maine System. No dissent is allowed, and their meetings are not televised. Indeed, it’s no longer permissible for tough questions of the Trustees and/or the top administrators to be offered during the allegedly public sessions. At least the Bangor School Committee allows its sessions to be televised.
This bunch must be so sore from patting themselves on the back, they should give ole Betts a tube of extra-strength Ben-Gay along with that key.
Ralph Greenleaf…..
Completely irrelevant.
You are…good point.
Congrats to Betsy Webb the best administrator I have ever worked with
Betsy Webb, meet Sarah Smiley.
Meet Marc Eastman . He will not take the bull Kate Dickerson did. The Eastmans Are great people who care about all kids . Excellence in education for all not most
I don’t know either Eastman or Smiley. But it took guts for Eastman to go with the flow and not vote for the continued chairmanship of Guerette on the School Com. Surely Phyllis has already told Eastman not to do that ever again.
I know Marc Eastman he is a decent man and will not back down when the issue comes down to the kids. Yes that is right the school board should by all rights look out for the kids first , They do not seem to do so now. Bangor does so many things that are good but chose to overlook the things that they could do better . Some people are not so selfish they they look out for themselves first . Lets say Bangor dose a great job with middle class kids and you are a board member who has middle class kids would you care about disadvantaged kids? Well yes they all care but some are willing to fight to help less able to fight for themselves . Eastman and Dickerson were. Try and do Marc the way they did Kate and you will see a real battle.
So what do you have to say about Downeast Schools outstanding results?
Sarah Smiley needs to meet with people on all sides before she becomes a yes person to the system as it is.
There is no doubt that she is extremely talented but she has had her fair share of controversy as well (on the other side of the scale).
This is just ridiculous. Current teens laugh and mock about the current drug deals that go on IN school. A School Board members abruptly resigns and the taxpayers are not even shocked at her reasons? DId you all listen to what she said? Man if there ever was a role mode for the “Good o’l boy system”, this is the place. A few years ago a student with unbelievable courage and writes a letter about the drug use at the school and Betsy blows it off as lies. Do you think that student will ever have that much bravery again? What was the lesson they were taught there? Lets get the BPD up to Bangor High, unannounced and do a drug search. Wow. Can you imagine Betsy approving that? No she won’t. Why? Because they would find nothing and it would be a waste of time. Funny the current students who go there say something different. Very different. But that is their security blanket, because they know the school would never take that kind of action. And they laugh at that. After all, its hard to get awards when your school has a black eye like a serious drug issue. So shhhhhhhhhhh.
She can take a step to improving by valuing debate over compliance. What’s wrong with the Bangor school board is what’s wrong with education.
You are absolutely correct.
I just wish Dr. Webb would be honest . Let me quote a school board member when asked about the drop out rate “the truth is nobody knows the drop out rate” . How much is she paid . Who Hired Bob Lucy ? seems he has a reputation for making the numbers look good . They really need a $7 million foot ball field ? lets see they play 7 home games a year. Many at risk kids fall threw the cracks . Yes Bangor might have high test scores but at what cost? Everything in life has its price. .Makes one wonder about the percentage of negative post to positive Dr. Webb gets . Wasn’t her doctoral paper on the unspoken rules in education?
Sports. Facades. Platitudes. Time for a change in the status quo. Time for us to pay attention and hold feet to the fire right here in River City. When is the next public school board meeting?
Well even if we go we are not allowed to bring up issues. The system is corrupt.
The meeting isn’t the only place to bring up issues with corrupt systems.
A private group is trying to raise funds to rebuild Cameron Stadium, which is more than Bangor High’s football field. The stadium is also home to John Bapst’s football program, Bangor High’s track and field teams, John Bapst’s track and field teams, summer recreational track and field programs, and is open to the public for use. Additionally, a new Cameron Stadium would be able to host soccer, field hockey, and other events.
Yes but they are not even allowed any other fund raisers till they get this one . A lot of schools do not even have football .
Once again cue the trolls….
Ever notice they way she tilts her head . Left head tilt usually means being dishonest.
It’s a studio portrait…
What a crock. She thinks she walks on water. I guess if you deny a problem exists then it doesn’t exist. What an excellent example of leadership.
Congratulations to Dr. Webb. Well deserved.