DANFORTH, Maine — When students at East Grand School returned to the classroom last week, a new face was waiting for them in the principal’s office.
Dawn Matthews of Houlton took over the position of principal for grades kindergarten through 12th grade. She replaces Dale Fiske who held the post for one year.
“My new position will offer me many opportunities beyond what I have experienced in the past,” Matthews said. “I am looking forward to working with the staff at East Grand School. It was obvious to me from the moment I stepped foot in the building that the adults in the school care deeply about the kids. I have since learned that the staff will selflessly commit to the programs that are in the students’ best interest.”
Matthews started her career in education in 1996 at Region Two’s alternative education program.
“There were two teachers, and we served a maximum of 20 high school students from Katahdin, East Grand, Southern Aroostook, Hodgdon and Houlton,” she explained.
After seven years as an alternative education teacher, she transferred to Houlton Junior/Senior High School as a high school science teacher. Matthews stayed in that post for six years before becoming the vice principal, a position she held for four years.
Leaving Houlton to become principal at East Grand was not an easy decision, but the challenge it presented was something Matthews was looking for at this stage of her career.
“I really like the small school atmosphere,” she said. “Everyone knows everyone else, and kids don’t fall through the cracks. Teachers are aware of their students’ needs — whether they are academic, emotional, or physical — and they tend to those needs. That deep sense of caring is essential for the formation of relationships that lead to better teaching and learning.”
Right now, her biggest challenge is learning all of the students’ names.
“There also aren’t enough hours in the day,” she joked. “Otherwise, ignorance is bliss. Because I don’t know what to expect, I understand that I’ll make many mistakes. I hope parents, staff, and students are patient with me as I progress through the year.”
Matthews explained the teachers at East Grand School have a practice of using student data to determine appropriate instruction for each individual.
“Because I have not been privy to data meetings before, I am looking forward to seeing how that philosophy looks in real life,” she said. “Basically, all students are screened and monitored on a regular basis to ensure that the instruction they are receiving is adequate. If the students are lagging or soaring, then the core instruction changes. It will be interesting to observe teaching that is aligned with each student’s needs.”
Another addition to her job description in moving from vice principal to principal is helping teachers move their curriculums to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). According to the CCSS website, http://www.corestandards.org, “The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them.”
Becoming a school principal was not exactly what Matthews envisioned when she was trying to figure out what career path to take.
“I always wanted to be a veterinarian, until I discovered in my junior year of college that it was harder to get into vet school than medical school,” she said. “At that point, I was majoring in animal and veterinary sciences, and completed my bachelor’s degree, hoping to work as a biologist or veterinary assistant.”
It wasn’t until she had children that she decided to become a teacher.
“At first, I went into teaching for the vacations so that I could work while my children were in school, and play when they were on vacation,” she said. “I like kids and I like to challenge their thinking. I also enjoy being challenged and kids certainly provide that.”
