Skip Maine state header navigation

Agencies | Online Services | Web Policies | Help  Email this page to a friendWatch this page and email me when it is updatedAdd this page to My Maine.gov Links

Skip First Level Navigation | Skip All Navigation

Home > Education News > Press Releases

Superintendents Receive Commissioner’s Awards

Gendron honors Don Siviski and Mike Cormier

July 16, 2009

REPORTERS AND EDITORS: Downloadable photos of Siviski and Cormier: http://www.maine.gov/education/news/images/

AUGUSTA – For the first time since 1994, two superintendents were named recipients of the Maine Department of Education’s Commissioner’s Awards. Education Commissioner Sue Gendron presented the awards last month to Mike Cormier, superintendent of the new RSU 9, based in Farmington, and to Don Siviski, superintendent of the new Regional School Unit 2, composed of Richmond, Monmouth, Dresden, and SAD 16, based in Hallowell. Siviski has been superintendent in SAD 16 since 2002.

“Mike is an exemplary leader for SAD 9 (now RSU 9),” Gendron said of Cormier. “He is guiding the creation of a comprehensive high school that will integrate career and technical education and the high school program to afford every student with a rigorous and relevant 21st century education. He has dedicated his career to raising the aspirations of students, supporting educators and creating learning environments for students and teachers that allow for individualization.”

“Don is a true champion of innovation and has provided exemplary leadership to his district and the state in technology integration with one-to-one laptops for children in grades 4 through 12, as well as with his school board, which has used laptops for several years,” Gendron said. “He recently led SAD 16 in the adoption of a standards-based system that will allow students to progress through their learning as they master Maine’s Learning Results standards.”

The Commissioner’s Award is given each year at the annual Maine School Superintendents’ Conference Awards Banquet to a deserving school superintendent in recognition of outstanding service and contributions made to Maine’s public education system, its students, and its citizens. Gendron presented the awards this year at the 98th Annual Maine School Superintendents’ Conference Award Banquet and Dinner in Bar Harbor.

David Connerty-Marin | Director of Communications | Maine Department of Education | 207-624-6880