Richard Abramson, a longtime Maine educator, has been named interim president at Good Will-Hinckley, which operates the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences, a charter school for non-traditional learners.

Abramson, who has been serving as the chairman of the charter school’s board, was appointed this week to replace outgoing president Glenn Cummings, who announced on Sept. 2 that he will become interim president at the University of Maine at Augusta.

The Maine Academy of Natural Sciences charter school, which opened in September 2012, represented a subtle change for Good Will-Hinckley, which had educated troubled and disadvantaged youngsters for more than a century before shutting down that operation in June 2009 for financial reasons

Abramson, a Colby College graduate, began his duties at the Fairfield school on Monday

Abramson resigned his board positions, according to a Good Will-Hinckley press release. The board of directors has already begun a professional search for a permanent president.

“Good Will-Hinckley has a clear growth plan that calls for partnering with school districts across Maine to serve those students who need a non-traditional, hands-on education to achieve their full potential,” Abramson said. “We have an exceptional senior leadership team, a terrific, expanding partnership with Kennebec Valley Community College and tremendous momentum across campus.

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“As someone who has worked in Maine education my whole career, I am proud to have the opportunity to lead one of our state’s most historic education institutions.”

Abramson has been involved in education, special education and working with young people for more than 40 years as a teacher in Richmond and as a graduate instructor and adjunct faculty member at the University of Maine at both Orono and Farmington as well as the University of New England in Biddeford.

His passions in education, he said by phone Thursday, are wellness and nutrition, along with working with students who are “the square pegs in the round holes.”

“The charter school … works with non-traditional kids, some of whom might have been leaning to dropping out, kids who were struggling in the public school environment and kids that really profit by a hands-on environment,” he said of the 76 students at the school.

Abramson was born and raised in Natick, Mass., and has been in Maine since arriving at Colby College in 1967. He graduated from Colby with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and from the University of Maine with master’s degrees in education, special education administration and educational administration.

Abramson for 17 years was superintendent in Maine school systems including Arundel (1995-1999), Wells-Ogunquit (1999-2001) and Readfield (2001-2012).

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Abramson, 65, announced his retirement in April 2011 after 10 years as head of the Maranacook school district, but stayed on with the district for another year as the school board searched for his replacement.

He then founded Abramson Education Consulting, which has advised many schools and institutions over the last two years.

Doug Harlow can be contacted at 612-2367 or at:

dharlow@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @Doug_Harlow


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