From the Principal - Bruce Whittier Middle School

Shawn Vincent

svincent@rsu16.org

207-998-3492

I was hired as a language arts teacher at Bruce M. Whittier Middle School in 2004. After growing up in Mechanic Falls and attending Elm Street School, my return to the area was a homecoming following six years teaching in Wilmington, Massachusetts. In October of 2006, I accepted my first administrative role and served as half-time middle school dean and half-time teacher. Regional School Unit #16 began reorganizing administration in 2008, and my position changed to a shared assistant principalship between Whittier Middle School and Poland Community School. Four years later, I was hired as principal at Whittier Middle School. In 2023, I received the tremendous honor of being named Maine Principal of the Year, an award representative of the outstanding work of the whole Whittier staff. I am grateful to be part of a staff and community that values education, healthy choices, and the development of young leaders.

Welcome to Whittier Middle School!

Bruce M. Whittier Middle School serves approximately 280 seventh and eighth graders from Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland. Our teaching staff is made up of twenty full-time teachers, five educational technicians, two school counselors, a dean of students and a principal. Additionally, we share staff members with each of the schools in our district.

Students take full-year courses in English language arts, math, science, and social studies. Seventh grade students complete trimester-long art, technology education, physical education, and writing courses. In eighth grade, students take Spanish, Wellness, physical education and writing classes. Students may also choose to participate in band and chorus.

We encourage students to get involved in sports and other co-curricular activities to enrich their school experience and challenge themselves beyond academics. During the fall season, students may play field hockey, soccer, or run with the cross-country team. Others play football through the recreation program. In the winter, basketball and indoor track are offered. With the arrival of spring, students may choose baseball, softball, or track. In addition, many students participate in Student Council, Drama Club, Yearbook Committee, Technology Club, Chess Club, Dungeons & Dragons Club, Writing Club, Civil Rights Team, and Math Club.

Academically, Whittier students continue to perform better than the state average on the Maine Educational Assessment. Teachers have developed common, consistent, rigorous curriculum and assessments to drive learning and continue to review and revise to meet the needs of our students. Staff works collaboratively to establish and monitor learning goals that support students' growth both within our Whittier Middle School classrooms and beyond.

Whittier Middle School implements the Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR) Model. The BARR Model is intended to help educators better connect with students and address the issues that cause students to fail, drop out, and/or engage in harmful behavior. The program, provided through a grant, has helped us build a structured monitoring and intervention system to develop goals and support for students. Every student is monitored and reviewed each week in an effort to track progress and needs, whether those needs be academic, behavioral, attendance or something more. The investment of time has helped us make great progress in supporting students.

We are extremely proud of the teaching, learning, and positive culture of our school, and we are truly grateful for the support and investment of our community.