My name is Paul
Theriault and I proudly serve as the principal of Shead High School in
Eastport, Maine. We are a small rural award-winning public high school on the
beautiful coast of Maine. If you look at a map of Maine, follow up the
coastline to that point at the eastern tip. You will find us there.
I have lived in
the Eastport area most of my life. I graduated from Shead as did my wife and
two daughters. My roots and belief in Shead run deep. I am proud of the work
that we do everyday to help students learn and achieve. Being a small school
helps us make this happen because of that personal connection between student
and teacher. Our mantra is, “We Make it Personal.”
We pride
ourselves in offering a solid academic foundation based on individual needs. We
do this through a proactive approach of early detection of trouble areas,
parental contact and staff intervention. This approach has stood the test of
time of well-grounded educational practices. We have done this in an
electronically progressive manner. All students at Shead have access to their
own assigned iPads. Our equally progressive staff has developed many of their
classes using technology and online support. Much like online college courses,
we take it a step further and offer that with everyday personal contact.
The other
benefits of our small school are that we can offer classes that students really
want and need to succeed in the future. In fact, many of our electives have
been generated from the ideas of students. We have partnered with the
University of Maine and Community College systems to offer early college
courses and with the Eastport Arts Center to offer art courses with world-class
and renowned artists.
Our teaching
staff is a vibrant group of dedicated and innovated educators. Their greatest
strength lies in their ablilty to deliver quality teaching in both the academic
and social aspects of school life. Some have advanced degrees and have taught
at the post-secondary level. We understand academic rigor for all students and
their varied ablilites and interests as we prepare our students for life after
high school.
But schools are,
and should be, more than academics. Socially, this is a very caring place for
students, parents and staff members. We do this in a proactive manner. Our
staff and administration are in the halls and talk with students on a regular
basis to get that personal feel of the school environment.
We also have a
number of co- and extra-curricular groups and events. Everything from student
government, to National Honor Society, to a student run FCC licensed radio
station, to successful sports teams, and an award winning drama program, just
to name a few.
Another
important asset is our community support. Funding for providing our students
with one to one iPads was made possible through donations by The Bill and Joan
Alfond Foundation and the Maine Community Foundation. The primary funding for
our school greenhouse was made possible by the Berman and Cohen families. Mrs.
Alfond and the Berman and Cohen families no longer live in the Eastport area
but their belief in our school also run deep. The Eastport Port Authority is
also a major supporter of our efforts, offering continuous funding of special
projects that help improve our school. Also, over $50,000 in college
scholarships are given to our graduates every year, from local benefactors, to
help them take that next step in their education. The Eastport taxpayers and
City Council have also increased their financial support of our school over the
past few years. All this support ensures that we can continue to bring a
quality education to our students.
What more could
you ask for – a wonderful small community-based high school located on the
pristine coast of Maine!
If you are
looking for a high school that will meet your child’s needs, we will make every
effort to work with you. There is a lot going here at Shead. If you would like
to find out more, please give me a call at school. My direct line is
207-853-5702; the school’s number is 207-853-6254. Better yet, come for a
visit; you will not be disappointed.
Sincerely,
Paul Theriault
[email protected]