St. Albans Consolidated School literacy specialist hired as PCES principal

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    GUILFORD — Anita Wright, who has served as the literacy specialist/coach at St. Albans Consolidated School for the past five years, is the new principal at Piscataquis Community Elementary School.
    She succeeds Julie Orton who retired at the end of the school year.

    “It’s a true community school,” Wright told the Observer. “From the moment I first visited the school, I felt right at home. The kids seem very comfortable and happy in their environment. The teachers are very hard-working and put the children first.”
    Wright has also taught at Nokomis Regional High School and seventh- and eighth-grade at Warsaw Middle School in Pittsfield. “Officially, I’ve worked with students from kindergarten to postgraduate,” she said. “I’ve taught everyone from advanced placement students to youngsters who were struggling with their reading skills.”
    Wright also said that she was impressed with the community involvement in School Administrative District 4 with suppers and other educational and social events. “A good example is the Arts Alive program,” she noted. “It not only involves the whole school, but more than 100 community volunteers as well.”
    The new principal plans to spend several hours at the school during the summer, but will also attend some training sessions and workshops at the University of Maine. “I’ve already met a lot of the staff members,” she said.
    Wright and her husband, David, live in Pittsfield and have two adult children: son Brandon, 23; and daughter Taylor, 20.