Staff Writer
MAPLETON – Being the father of two small boys has helped prepare Dan Duprey for his new role as Mapleton Elementary School principal. He replaces Gail Gibson who retired in June.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
NEW MAPLETON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCPAL Dan Duprey is looking forward to the first day of school. The Presque Isle native formerly taught physical science at Presque Isle High School, and for the last four years was the assistant principal of Caribou Middle School. He replaces Gail Gibson who retired in June.
“Having two young boys [Benjamin, 5, and Alexander, 2], I have a very good understanding of how their minds work and how they perceive things,” said Duprey. “They like direction and limits, and they respect you for it, and that’s how I’m going to approach the students.
“[With younger children] you have to modify your approach,” he said. “You still have the same expectations for kids and their behavior, but it’s a different approach. You try to work with them and try to recognize and understand how to correct their behaviors. It’s a true teaching position, but it’s a little more far-reaching because you’re working with the students, family members and teachers … the entire learning community. I’m really excited about that.”
A 1991 graduate of Presque Isle High School, Duprey received his bachelor of science degree in secondary education from the University of Maine and his master’s in educational leadership from the University of Southern Maine.
After doing some long-term substitute teaching at PIHS, Duprey was hired as a physical science teacher.
“I was at the high school for eight years,” said Duprey. “From there I was the assistant principal of Caribou Middle School for four years, and then accepted the position at Mapleton.”
Since Duprey was tapped as Gibson’s successor, he said the response from the teachers at Mapleton has been phenomenal.
“The staff immediately sent me a card congratulating me which made me feel very good. They’ve offered words of encouragement and support and said they will be here to help me transition into this new position,” he said. “That was very comforting.”
Duprey’s first objective is to get to know the students, teachers and parents.
“I think that’s vitally important as an educational leader. A lot of people don’t know me, so I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to get to know everybody,” he said. “I feel fortunate to have the chance to come back and work in SAD 1. Mapleton Elementary School has always been recognized for its excellence and quality of education, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to work here.
“Beyond that, my goal is to continue supporting the teachers here with the work they’ve already done with literacy across the content areas,” said Duprey. “They’ve done outstanding work with reading programs here and getting that spread throughout all the content areas to benefit students, so that’s one of my focuses.”
Having received some new pieces of equipment over the summer, Duprey said he’s also interested in helping further integrate technology into the teachers’ classrooms.
“Those things don’t happen overnight … they take time,” he said. “I really like technology and I think it has a place in public education and if it’s done appropriately, it can be effective.”
Duprey said it was during his third or fourth year of teaching and coaching basketball and softball that he knew he wanted to one day become an adminstirator.
“In addition to coaching, I chaperoned two trips to Europe and really got an eye opening of the full educational experience,” he said. “By working closely with some of the groups, organizations and administrators at the high school, and going through the accreditation process at PIHS, it sparked my interest in it. Being involved in as many different activities as possible gave me a good sense of the pulse in the building. That was beneficial and I wanted to branch off from there.”
SAD 1 Superintendent Gehrig Johnson is confident Duprey will succeed in his new position.
“Dan is a quality individual. We’ve watched him grow up and come through Presque Isle schools and we know that he is very motivated and is well thought of by those who have contact with him,” said Johnson. “He was a teacher for us, has experience as an administrator in the Caribou school system, and we feel that the timing was very good for both us and him.
“We feel very fortunate to have him and while it will be difficult to replace an icon like Gail Gibson, she gave him her blessing,” he said, “and I think he is the person that can go in there and continue the excellent job that Gail was always able to do.”
The new principal is looking forward to the opening day of school.
“I’m anxious to get the kids here and do what we do best,” said Duprey, “and that’s teach and foster a quality learning experience.
“I’m a lifelong resident of Presque Isle,” he said. “I enjoy it here and this is a life for myself and my family and this is where we want to be. This is a great opportunity for me and I’m looking forward to working with all the people in the community.”
Duprey, his wife, Becky, and their two children reside in Presque Isle.