Staff Writer

 Steve Marquis, who will be the new principal for Sea Road School in July, spoke with the Post about his busy summer plans and his earlier post at Thornton Academy Middle School. He currently is principal at William Allen School in Rochester, N.H.

Tell me a little bit about your history

I’m from Old Town. I went to the University of Maine Orono and then I attended University of Southern Maine, where I completed a school program in school administration for a principalship and for director of special education. I did both programs and then I was a special education teacher for eight years.

 Where were you a special education teacher?

In Saco and in Cumberland. From there I returned back to Saco to become an assistant principal at C.K. Burns School in Saco. I served as assistant principal for one year and then the principal position opened up and I served the next four years as principal. I was at Saco at Burns for five years in total.

In my fifth year I was contacted by Thornton Academy to help start up their middle school program. I spent three and a half years at Thornton Academy. The first six months I was working as principal at C.K. Burns while also working nights hiring staff and doing the logistical planning with the administrative team at Thornton.

This past spring my position was eliminated. With the elimination of my position and budgets the way they were, I decided to take this position in Rochester, which was a tremendous opportunity, I love this school.

 So why are you now returning to the area?

I still live in Saco. I worked in total 10 years in Saco, and this past year in Rochester. When the posting for Sea Road opened up I was really excited. Everything I ever heard about the school really aligned with my past experience in elementary. Burns was grades three to five, Sea Road is grades four and five just the whole educational community in Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel is real high quality.

 You sat in on (a recent) School Board meeting and heard RSU 21 is considering changing its relationship with Thornton Academy Middle School. Do you envision your prior relationship to impact your new relationship with RSU 21?

I don’t envision it either helping or hurting. Really my goal when I start my position is really learn as much as I can about the Sea Road School and the students, the learning community, the structures of RSU 21. I envision being very busy, and I’m not trying to avoid that question, I’m just going to be really busy doing all the things I need to do at Sea Road.

That’s a tough one because I enjoyed my experience at Thornton and I’m really looking forward more to my new opportunity in Kennebunk. I don’t want to live in the past but I don’t want to be placed in that awkward situation. I think that for me, really understanding and learning about the school I’m going to be working at is of primary importance.

 What are some of the things you are looking forward to coming into Kennebunk?

I think the age of the students. I just love that fourth-, fifth-grade time in the kids’ lives. I think it’s a time where their future is bright with their hopes and dreams at that intermediate elementary level. I think the administrative team is exceptional in RSU 21, I think the school board support is exceptional.

The acceptance and the follow-up thank-you notes have reassured me this is going to be an exceptional opportunity. So really just getting to know the kids, I think that’s the most important thing as a school employee, really getting to know what the hopes and dreams of the kids are and working with parents. Regardless of where you work in a school you’re always working with kids, you’re always working with parents, you’re always working with excellent school teachers, I’m just going to be doing it a little closer to home in a wonderful school district.

 Any changes you think you’re going to make?

I think my style and my experience here at Rochester would really support that is to really go in and really hear from the greater learning community and talk about what their hopes and dreams are for the school and that would really help us find out what makes a school a better place.

I think any school has areas for improvements and exciting opportunities but really just asking questions that are important for goals of parents for their students. If I were to say I was going in and changing something, it would mean that (I) really had taken time to know what works and what doesn’t. I’m just one of many who will help guide the students.

 When are you officially finished in Rochester?

I will be done end of June.

 When do you start the moving over process?

My contract begins July 1. I’ll work up until the end and make sure there is a smooth transition (in Rochester). Then I will assume my responsibilities (at Sea Road). It’s going to be an exciting opportunity.

I went and visited the school on the outside over the weekend with my children and my wife and we made our way around the school and the structures they had there. My kids are very excited about the school.

 Where do your kids go?

My oldest one attends the Young School in Saco and my youngest son will begin there in the fall as a kindergartner.

I know you’ll be working most of the summer, but do you have any other plans?

I have what I think is a good mode of entry there. I’m really just try to learn and having a lot of conversations.

It’ll be a real busy summer. I will take a little time to spend with my family as well. It’s going to be great. I’m looking forward to it.