THORNDIKE — Leadership turnover continues to occur within the Regional School Unit 3 ranks. 

Earlier this year, the district lost its superintendent, assistant superintendent and athletic director, while the principal of Mount View Elementary School was promoted. 

At its June 17 school board meeting, it was formally announced the district is losing its middle school principal and the elementary school principal opening will be filled from within.

RSU 3 is in Waldo County and includes the towns of Brooks, Freedom, Jackson, Knox, Liberty, Monroe, Montville, Thorndike, Troy, Unity and Waldo. 

Mount View Elementary School 

Following a search for a new elementary school principal, the school board approved Alicia McCormick for the role at its June 17 meeting. 

McCormick, a 1986 graduate of Mount View High School, replaces Charles Brown who was promoted to the superintendent position. 

McCormick has spent 16 years with the district teaching English and social studies. She currently teaches at Mount View Middle and previously taught at Unity Elementary School. 

“I pursued this position because I am invested in the RSU3 community,” she said. “[M]y husband and I raised our six kids here, and I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.”

She holds a bachelor’s in speech communication and a master’s in elementary education and teaching from the University of Maine and a certificate of administration from the University of Maine at Farmington. 

This past year, she completed an administrative internship at Mount View Elementary and was able to, as she said, build relationships with the elementary school community. 

“I look forward to deepening those connections and supporting the growth of the students and staff of MVES,” she said. 

She has served on the Town of Unity budget and economic development committees, according to her LinkedIn profile, and is a recipient of the district’s outstanding achievement award. Her husband, Dan, is a selectman in Unity. 

“We both believe strongly in taking care of your own community,” she said. “I look forward to continuing to serve the RSU3 community in my new capacity as MVES principal.”

Mount View Middle School

After losing its superintendent and assistant superintendent to other school districts, Regional School Unit 3 is now losing a middle school principal to another district.  

Quinton S. Donahue stepped down from his post leading Mount View Middle School, a position he has held since 2014, to accept the same role at Gorham Middle School. 

Prior to his time in Thorndike, Donahue taught mathematics and was a department chair at Hampden Academy. 

He holds a master’s in education leadership, bachelor’s in secondary education and is pursuing his doctorate in educational leadership, all through the University of Maine. 

In a letter to parents, he noted the decision was made to be closer to family. 

“This is a very special community,” he wrote. “I will miss the many relationships that have been built with students, staff, parents, and community members.” 

The middle school principal position oversees approximately 290 students in sixth through eighth grades, according to a job posting. 

“The amazing teachers and staff of MVMS are looking forward to working with the new principal to continue our good work going forward,” Donahue wrote. “The teacher leaders have already set aside summer time to help support with the transition.” 

Reach George Harvey at: sports@penbaypilot.com.