Masardis native recognized
for school health leadership
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
Masardis native Richard A. Lyons, superintendent of SAD 22 (Hampden, Newburgh and Winterport), was recently honored with the American School Health Association’s (ASHA) 2010 School Health Leadership Award.
“The American School Health Association is delighted to select Superintendent Lyons as the premier leader at the superintendent level for exemplary school leadership,” said Susan Wooley, executive director of the ASHA.
Richard A. Lyons
Lyons, 58, has been an active advocate for school health at the local, state and national levels. He was the first superintendent to chair the Maine Coordinated School Health Programs (CSHP) Key Advisory Committee from 2001-03. He has presented about the benefits of school health at numerous state and national conferences including the Maine Academy of Pediatrics, Harvard School of Public Health, California School Boards Association, Florida Superintendents Association, and the ASHA.
In addition, Lyons was a member of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Division of Adolescent Health Expert Panel on CSHP in 2008. He has also served as co-chair of the ASHA’s Council on Administrative Support for School Health in 2005-06, and continues to be an active member of the Council’s Advisory Group.
The son of Alice and the late Richard Sr., Lyons attended K-8 in the four-room Masardis Elementary School, and graduated from Ashland Community High School in 1971. From 1971-73, he attended the University of Maine at Fort Kent where he studied elementary education. Lyons then transferred to the University of Maine at Orono and graduated in 1975 with a bachelor of science degree in education.
“I took the first job I was offered which was in St. Albans, Vt. where I taught grade 4-8 mathematics for one year,” said Lyons. “That was the time that the Olympics were in Montreal, so I was about 45 minutes away from the Olympics. It was incredible.
“I then returned to The County and taught middle school in Washburn from 1976-78 and also coached freshmen basketball,” he said. “After being granted a leave of absence, I went back to UMO and received my masters degree in educational administration in 1978.”
Lyons received his certificate of advanced study degree in the superintendency from UMO in 1988.
Hired by SAD 1 in 1979, Lyons was a teaching principal at the Westfield Elementary School for one year.
“From 1980-84 I went to Gouldville Elementary School as the full-time supervisory principal,” he said. “In 1984, I was transferred to Zippel Elementary School where I stayed until 1990. At the same time, I was very involved in refereeing and was a member of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials, and when I ended, I was the interpreter of the board which is a position where you teach people to be officials.”
Lyons became the superintendent of SAD 68 (Dover-Foxcroft) in 1990, and in 1992, accepted the superintendent position in SAD 22, a position he has held for 19 years.
He received the Superintendent of the Year Award from the Maine School Superintendents Association in 2004, and in 2007 was the recipient of the Maine Commissioner of Education’s Distinguished Superintendent Award.
Lyons and his wife, Pat (Morin) of Ashland, have two children: Matthew of Bangor and Megan of Damariscotta. His sister, Bonnie Judkins, resides in Glenburn, while his mother lives in Presque Isle.
Lyons received his award at the 84th annual conference, Healthy Students … Successful Learners, in Kansas City, Mo. Oct. 13.
“I am extremely proud of SAD 22 and what the organization does for the health and well-being of employees and students. The board of directors embraces the philosophy of employee wellness and subscribes to policies that reflect this belief,” he said. “I am grateful that our students are given a diverse and comprehensive health and physical education curricula, and personnel are committed.
“The environment of the educational community is vibrant and a wonderful place to teach and learn. Our new Hampden Academy, scheduled to open in September 2012, incorporates the principles of a coordinated school health model,” said Lyons. “The kindergarten to grade eight structure provides a strong foundation for the Academy to build upon.”
