FORT KENT, Maine – Fort Kent Elementary School and Wisdom Middle/High School now have new principals, according to Superintendent Benjamin Sirois.
Kevin Anderson, who has been an educator at MSAD 27 in Fort Kent since 2007 and who most recently worked as the Dean of Students, transferred to become Fort Kent Elementary School’s principal earlier this month. Anderson taught science at Valley Rivers Middle School from 2007 to 2021, after which he began working as the dean.
“The decision to move from Dean of Students to Principal was driven by my deep commitment to this school and its community, as well as a desire to have an even greater impact,” Anderson wrote in an email on Monday.
He said that the move from dean to principal feels like a natural progression, and that it will allow him to expand on his previous experiences.
“My deep connection to this school (as far back as being a middle school student here) and the people who make it such a special place made this decision both meaningful and exciting,” he wrote.
Anderson’s appointment comes after the transfer of former FKES principal Robby Nadeau, who will become the new principal for Wisdom Middle/High School and Dr. Levesque Elementary School.
Longtime Aroostook Educator Cheryl Hallowell previously served as principal for both Dr. Levesque Elementary School and Wisdom Middle/High School. She officially retired on Oct. 2 after an education career spanning over three decades.
After Hallowell’s retirement, former Fort Kent High School principal John Kaleta served as the interim at the Wisdom and Dr. Levesque schools.
According to an online post from Sirois, Nadeau has worked with Kaleta as part of the transition process and will officially start on Jan. 2.
Nadeau served as FKES principal since 2018, and before that he worked as a social studies teacher at the middle and high school levels in Fort Kent. He also served as the head coach of the Fort Kent Lady Warriors soccer team while teaching, and has recently worked as assistant coach for the Wisdom Lady Pioneers on a volunteer basis.
Nadeau said he is looking forward to officially getting started.
“It is an honor to serve both the elementary and high school, guiding students from the moment they enter public education until they graduate,” he said on Monday. “While I am saddened to leave the wonderful students and colleagues at MSAD #27, I am eager to embrace this exciting opportunity. The team at MSAD #33 has welcomed me wholeheartedly, and I look forward to contributing daily after the holidays.”
Anderson’s role as FKES principal officially began on Dec. 23, according to a Dec.17 post from Sirois.
“We are excited for the FKES community in welcoming Mr. Anderson in this new role,” Sirois said in the post. “Kevin’s collaborative work with Mr. Nadeau has created a solid foundation to be successful in this new role, and I expect him to bring his own thoughts and ideas on school improvement.”
