HONOR ROLL 2001-2002

These are the ones willing to have something published about them. Many others on and off the refuser list have just gone quietly. Family circumstances have forced some on our lists to return to teaching, blackmailed by the state and circumstances into accepting the unacceptable. 







Bernie Huebner - Skowhegan Elementary School System - Gifted and Talented Program 

    

  • 21 years teaching in the Gifted and Talented Programs in Madison, Waterville, and Skowhegan

  • Taught the Gifted and Talented course at the University of Maine at Orono for two years, 
and consulted widely across Maine independently and for the Department of Education 

  • Recipient of the Exemplary Service Award from Maine Educators of the Gifted and Talented in 
1999

  • Instrumental in bringing Olympics of the Mind to Maine and trained coaches and judges for 
that program 

  • Accompanied a number of student musicians on the piano in both concerts and competitions 

  • Moved to Massachusetts where teachers are better appreciated (and don't have to be 
fingerprinted ).  Now back and working on fingerprint repeal.




Steve Smith - Belfast Area High School - Social Studies

     

  • 21 years as a teacher - "That's the real Honor" 

  • Innovative grants for a local history slide show on the building of Wyman Dam 

  • Co-founder of the interdisciplinary, Gifted and Talented, Advanced Placement course, 
The American Experience 

  • Co-founder of "The World and I" a team-taught, interdisciplinary course combining World 
Geography and World Literature,and includes English, Social Studies, and Special Ed teachers as 
one-third of the students are special ed 

  • Twice chosen as Yearbook Dedicatee 

  • Three times named by students receiving the Rotary Leadership award as mentor




Catie Dean 

    

  • Living in exile in New Hampshire with her family




Chuck Whitney - Ellsworth High School - Science

     

  • Owned and operated medical lab business for 20 years before entering teaching 
profession 

  • 10 years teaching experience, including Chair of Science Department 

  • Served on Ellsworth accreditation committee and observed other high schools 

  • Developed and taught multidisciplinary English/Science curriculum 

  • Advisor for rigorous afterschool Outdoor Club at Sumner HS 

  • Track coach for high school students, as well as consultant for adults including 
support for Olympic training 

  • 2001 Year Book co-dedicatee 

  • Currently working on masters degree through Audubon Expedition Institute which may lead 
to a position as a naturalist thus hopefully satisfying his passion for teaching






Deena Weinstein - SAD#4, Guilford, ME - Coordinator of Migrant Services

     

  • 30 years varied teaching and counseling service in public and private schools 

  • Taught K-12, 

  • Master's degree in guidance and counseling 

  • Assisted in the formation of substitute program in East Corinth School District

  • Spent three years as a middle school counselor, facilitating bereavement groups, peer 
mediation training, the student assistance team, and the district's crisis intervention team

  • Began a Montessori pre school program connected with SAD 46 

  • Taught nutrition for six years in the Cooperative Education Service




Genie Wheelwright - Mt. Ararat High School - Topsham - Spanish

     

  • Graduated from Yale in 1975 with a BA in Latin Studies 

  • Earned a Masters in History (Latin American) in 1979 and has earned 15+ credits beyond 
masters 

  • 15 years teaching experience, with 13 of those years at Mt Ararat 

  • Musical director for the spring musical at Mt. Ararat High School for the last couple 
of years 

  • 2001 Foreign Language Teacher of the Year




Susan Russell - MSAD 48 - Newport - District Library/Media Specialist 

    

  • Master's Degree in Library Science with 11 years experience in the school system 

  • Responsible for five elementary, three middle school and Nokomis Regional High School 
LIbrary/Media Centers 

  • Developed and implemented Information Gathering Skills Curriculum and Research
 Strategies 

  • Affirmative Action officer for six years and GESA trainer 

  • Holocaust Human Rights Center Member




Barbara Franklin – Mt. Ararat High School - Topsham - Choral Director 20 yrs.  

    


  • 31 years of teaching - Michigan (1 yr.), Virginia (5 yrs.), and Maine (25 yrs.) 

  • All levels taught - 6 yrs. elementary, 5 yrs. junior high school, 20 yrs. high school 

  • 1995 Maine Outstanding Choral Conductor (American Choral Directors Asso.) 

  • 2000 Maine Music Educator of the Year (Maine Music Educators Asso.) 

  • MMEA Choral Vice-President, 1985-1988 

  • Award winning choirs at Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham, 1983-2002 

  • (Forced early retirement, June 2002) 

  • Now gives private piano and voice lessons in Brunswick and directs the CODA Chorus, an 
80-voice community choir in Winthrop.