PCES principal named state’s top administrator

GUILFORD — Piscataquis Community Elementary School Principal Anita Wright has been named as Maine’s National Association of Elementary School Principals National Distinguished Principal of the Year for 2023. The announcement of the honor, from the professional organization serving elementary and middle-level principals who represent 35 million children in pre-K through grade 8, was announced during an all-school assembly to start the day on Friday, April 7.

According to an award announcement, Wright received the recognition based on her student advocacy. She continuously explores pathways which make sense for each child. Her focus for her school culture is gratitude. Wright acknowledges that kindness is extremely important and being grateful for each kindness is equally essential for individual health and for sustaining a positive mindset.

Maine Principal’s Association Professional Division Executive Director Dr. Holly Blair said, “Principal Wright has a clear vision for her school and that vision is evident and alive in every way, in every hall and in all spaces of the school. She creates authentic learning experiences and her ability to channel student energy into issues bigger than themselves is unique to Ms. Wright’s leadership skill set. When one of her third grade students was asked to share the best thing about her principal, she replied, ‘She gives us opportunities.’”

Dr. Blair told the students gathered in the PCES gym that one of the best parts of her job is traveling all over the state and going into every single one of the 700-plus schools in Maine. She said all have “really amazing principals.” 

Dr. Blair said she gets to meet all the administrators and every year, “We get to pick the best of the best of every elementary principal in the entire state of Maine and guess what, your Mrs. Wright has been named the National Distinguished Principal of the Year.

“And it gets even better, Mrs. Wright gets to be one of 50 principals of the year for the whole United States.”

After a standing ovation from the audience Wright said, “It is not hard to be a good leader when you have good people standing with you and the staff here, the superintendent, they are the best. So it isn’t hard to look good when they’re standing with me.”

“It isn’t just an award for me, it’s an us award because I have all these wonderful teachers, superintendent,” she said to the students. “But do you know who makes them look good? You, you make them look good so give yourselves a round of applause.”

“So you know who makes you look good, your families and your community. You have the school board, you have the Masons, you have the Appalachian Mountain Club, the sheriff’s department, the hospital, and on and on. We are so fortunate all these people stand with you. This is an us award, you get to enjoy this with me.”

Wright said the students could celebrate the honor further by having a piece of congratulatory cake at lunch.

The principal, who was nominated by SAD 4 Superintendent Kelly MacFadyen, will be honored by the MPA at the organization’s spring conference on April 27 at the Samoset Resort.

Wright received her bachelor of arts from Colby College in 1987. She then obtained her master of education degree from the University of Maine in 2010.

Wright began her educational career as an English teacher at Maine Central Institute in 1999. From there she worked as an ELA teacher/coach at Warsaw Middle School. She later taught English at Nokomis Regional High School where she stayed until moving into a literacy coach position at St. Albans Consolidated School in 2009. In 2014 Wright came to PCES to start her near decade-long time as principal.

Wright is a member of the NAESP, the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, is an alumni in the Education Leaders Experience, serves on the advisory board for the Center for Innovation in Education at Thomas College, and is on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Maine Education. She is also a member of the MPA.