Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 will bid farewell to Special Services Director Lisa Smith at the end of the school year. Smith worked for Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District as a speech language pathologist from 1996 to 2016 and has since worked as Special Services Director for the AOS also serving two years as director of technology. She is going to Regional School Unit 26 in Orono.

Originally from northern Maine, Smith said she misses the type of winters where a good snow is not immediately coated by a sheet of ice. It does not make for good cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.

“Although I have grown to love the coast, I’ve missed (that). My husband and I were thinking of moving north once our boys had graduated high school, to be closer to family. Our plan was to move toward the Bangor area.”

Then the director of special services job for RSU 26 opened up and Smith began to wonder if it was time to move on. Considering her job has an average course of four to five years, she and her family decided she should apply instead of waiting for an opportunity that would not likely come around for a while. Smith was called for an interview and then a second one.

“Our excitement grew at the possibility of change, but so did my apprehension of leaving this team of folks that I have been working along side of for 24 years.”

Although she loves her colleagues and it is hard to imagine no longer working with them, Smith said an AOS has its challenges as she currently travels among 15 schools for meetings. RSU 26 will mean one school board and one budget to work with and though the RSU is larger, it has three schools on one campus. “I will definitely save wear and tear on my car, but I likely will not get through as many audiobooks.”

Asked for her fondest memories of working in the region, she said she has far too many to count. Smith has always loved her work as a speech therapist helping children overcome delays or disabilities. “I loved my relationships with them, encouraging them, working hard and laughing often.”

As a director of special services, Smith said her goal has always been creating a teamwork atmosphere for students and their families, teachers, service providers and administrators to help all accomplish their educational goals. She said all she ever wanted was to build relationships leading to honest communication with everyone holding a stake in the schools.

“I feel that I have been able to do that for the most part and that is probably what I am the most proud of. I tell my own kids that every problem has a solution … I appreciate that the position has allowed for me to be an ‛out of the box’ thinker and problem solver.”

Even though the well-being of students provides most of Smith’s passion, she also said much of her accomplishment is due to support from a great staff.

“I appreciate them more than they will ever know and will miss them. I’d like to thank them for being part of my life, supporting me and my family through the years. They are incredible people, doing an incredible job serving our communities passionately.”