HOLDEN, Maine — After 19 years at the helm of Holden Elementary School — six of which he served as interim superintendent and superintendent of a school unit serving students from seven towns in Penobscot and Hancock counties — Dave Anderson is going out on a high note.
On one of his final days as the leader of Alternative Organizational Structure 81, Anderson received the 2015 Outstanding Educational Leadership award, presented jointly by the Maine Department of Education and the Maine School Superintendents Association.
AOS 81 consists of Regional School Unit 63’s member towns of Holden, Eddington and Clifton and Community School District 8’s member towns of Amherst, Aurora, Great Pond and Osborn.
Nominated by the Penquis Superintendents Association, Anderson received the statewide award during the 104th annual Commissioner’s Conference for Superintendents, held Sunday through Tuesday at Sunday River’s Jordan Hotel in Newry.
“I was humbled and honored to receive this, especially when [the recognition] comes from your peers. That means a lot,” Anderson said Tuesday, his last day as superintendent and principal.
“I can’t say enough about how much I have enjoyed my time, in the principal role in particular. I have been principal at Holden Elementary School from 1996 to now,” he said.
He said, however, that he took on the role of superintendent somewhat reluctantly, the first time on an interim basis after the departure of former superintendent Louise Regan in 2007-08 and again on a permanent basis for the last five years.
The first round in the head office came at the request of the school board chairman at the time.
“My response has always been, if there’s anything I can do to support the children who attend the schools of Holden, Eddington and Holbrook, of course I would do it,” he said. “The principalship is my true love, but I have no regrets about stepping in as superintendent.”
While he initially thought he might stay on as elementary school principal, upon further reflection, Anderson decided it was the right time to walk away.
“When you can walk away from something that you truly love and feel really great about it, I think that’s really a blessing, to be able to say that you did that,” Anderson said. “It’s a little bittersweet because I love what I do so much, but I had such a great experience.”
Post-retirement plans include a trip to London in early July with his wife, Patty, a retired Bangor schoolteacher. He said he plans to spend time at camp this summer with family and continue officiating high school and small college basketball games but isn’t sure he will continue to officiate high school baseball.
Anderson will be succeeded by Kenneth Smith of Islesboro, who recently entered a year-long contract with AOS 81 as interim superintendent.