My name is Paul Stearns and I serve as Superintendent of Schools for the District, which is made up of the towns of Abbot, Cambridge, Guilford, Parkman, Sangerville, and Wellington. Our four schools provide programming for approximately 725 students from Kindergarten through grade twelve.

I have lived in SAD #4 for the past 30 years. My daughter and son attended the district schools, and they both graduated from Piscataquis Community High School. From the perspective of both a parent and an educational professional, I hold complete confidence in the abilities of the staff of the district to provide the high quality programming and rigorous academic curriculum required to develop the skills and qualities that a person needs to succeed in the 21st century.

Standard and Poor's Evaluation Services have recently recognized SAD #4 as one of only nine systems in Maine to be considered "outperforming." An outperforming school district is one that reports significantly higher percentages of students who are proficient or above on state reading and math tests than other school districts in Maine with similar levels of poverty.
Each of our six towns is unique and beautiful in its own way. All of the communities share the same values of community spirit, friendliness, independence, common sense, integrity, and a quality of life that makes central Maine the special place that it is.
We believe very much in educating students one at a time, and pride ourselves on meeting the individual needs of pupils and families. While we are recognized as a progressive district, noted for our extensive use of technology, we remain well grounded in the best eductional practices that have stood up to the test of time.

The McKusick School houses Kindergarten and grade one. We also offer a HeadStart program for qualified 4-year-olds on the same site.

The Guilford Primary School houses grades two and three. Each of these elementary schools provides comprehensive services to approximately 100 students.

Piscataquis Community Middle School holds grades 4-8 where a complete upper elementary and middle school curriculum are provided.

Piscataquis Community High School is an accredited, comprehensive grades 9-12 school that has received national recognition as a school of excellence. The school has been profiled by CNN, ABC Evening News, and the Bangor Daily News for its rigorous academic standards. PCHS is a member school of the Tri-County Technical Center, offering students an opportunity to study for careers in eight different programs.

SAD #4 is a member of the Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative. By collaborating with neighboring school systems, we are able to offer top quality programs designed specifically with the adult learner in mind.

I welcome you to tour our website; or better yet, come visit us. We welcome parents, educators, and the general pubilc to schedule an appointment to visit any of our schools or activities throughout the year. We hope you will explore our district and discover that "SAD #4 is a Great Place to Learn."

If I can be of assistance to you in any way, please feel free to contact me at 207-876-3444 or pstearns [at] sad4 [dot] com.

Sincerely,

Paul Stearns

MSAD #4 Superintendent of Schools