In a letter read March 25 to the Region School Board, which oversees the Mid-Coast School of Technology, in Rockland, Director Beth Fisher said the following: I would like to thank the Board for the opportunity I have had to serve as Director of the Mid-Coast School of Technology for the past dozen years. It has been a rewarding journey. Through the effort of so many we have been able to transform this school into the innovative, student-centered learning community we dreamt about through Many Flags and into our state-of-the-art new facility.

MCST has a dedicated staff that has worked diligently together to provide a Career and Technical school that we can all have great pride in. Through team work and commitment to a common goal we have built a structure both literally and now through distance learning to support our regional students.

During the past decade we have accomplished a great deal. Our teachers have all adopted industry standards. Most programs have dual enrollment options (college credits) for their students. Instructors have successfully embedded applied literacy and numeracy in their daily teaching practice. 

Each year we assist our students as they earn Industry Recognized Credentials, college credits, and opportunities to use their skills through the Cooperative Education program and other employment.

This year we will be inducting more students than ever before in the National Technical Honor Society (based on their last three semesters’ achievements). Our students, with teachers’ support, have earned awards on both the state and national level. Our senior celebration is enhanced by the scholarships awarded to deserving students to give them a head start on their future. We did this together.

By transitioning our ninth and tenth grade Exploratory Program into satellite locations we are well aligned to the State Board of Education’s goal to serve more and younger students in CTE programming. We have planned middle school summer programming which will be implemented when the current crisis ends.

I am confident this work will continue with MCST’s capable staff and the support of the board, but, I feel it is time for me to transition to whatever comes next. I made this decision shortly after February break when the construction project seemed to have actually achieved substantial completion. I had promised myself and others I would stay through the building project and I now believe we are successfully there. 

My tentative retirement date is June 30, 2020. However, I’m happy to help in whatever way I can through a leadership transition. Again, I am honored to have served as the Director of MCST and it is with many mixed feelings that I have made this choice to pass the torch to a new leadership team.

I trust the board will ensure a smooth transition and continue to provide their unwavering support of this school community. Thank you again for this opportunity. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Beth Fisher