Brunswick School Department

One of the highlights of being a Superintendent is being able to job shadow - I love it! Last week I went on two bus runs, and this week I had the pleasure of serving lunch at BJHS with this phenomenal team! #teambrunswickme #maine #schoollunch

Brunswick High School achieved "Unified Champion School" status earlier this year. This tremendous honor was recognized by ESPN, who highlighted BHS as its spotlight school for the 2022-2023 academic year. Here's a 3-minute video of our ceremony showcasing unified athletes and unveiling of the banner, which is located at BHS. https://vimeo.com/815040064/7aee305cf6

Employee Spotlight: Jennifer White -Kindergarten Transitions Program Teacher, Kate Furbish Elementary School Jennifer and her fiance, Liz, have three cats. She is originally from Presque Isle, Maine and graduated from the University of Maine at Augusta. What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud Working with people who are passionate about their job, and are so willing to help each other succeed. KFE has fabulous leadership and support staff. What do you like to do outside of work for fun? Sing, act, paint, craft, play board/card games, and spend time at the beaches looking for sea glass. Favorite line from a movie? You're not dead yet: so stop living as if you are! If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? Pink What is something you learned in the last week? Prioritize the to-do list…it will all get done eventually!

A shout-out to the Brunswick School Department Grounds Crew Team! Thanks for the beautiful flowers 🌸 - #teambrunswickme

Today Superintendent Potenziano read to KFS Kindergarten students in Mrs. Lucas’s class. Check out the photo of the morning message!

Employee Spotlight: Amanda Similien - 6th grade Science Teacher, Brunswick Junior High School Amanda and her husband, Harold, met in the Peace Corps, and she convinced him to move to Maine! They have been together for 21 years. They have two boys at BHS (one a senior and one freshman). Amanda attended the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud The kids! I never imagined myself in this position, yet from the moment I started last fall, the kids showed me that this is where I should be! What do you like to do outside of work for fun? Being with the family, going to sports, the beach, making food, laughing and having good quality time together. Favorite line from a movie? "When you drink water through your trunk, does it taste like boogers?" - Ice Age If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? My great grandparents- So many stories of them, I'd love to hear in person their struggles and successes. What is something you learned in the last week? You can separate DNA from a strawberry and see it!

Employee Spotlight: Ben Tobey - Systems Administrator, Central Office Ben and his wife, Emily, have three children ages 8-16 and one dog named Pippin. He is originally from Dayton, Ohio and attended Indiana University. What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud Everyone is dedicated to the overall well-being of the students. What do you like to do outside of work for fun? Hiking, Backpacking, Canoeing, Skiing Favorite line from a movie? “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” - Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? John Muir What is something you learned in the last week? I learned from my son that such a thing as "black hole stars" are theorized to have existed in the early universe.

Employee Spotlight: Sarah Hughes - 8th Grade Science Teacher, Brunswick Junior High School Sarah is originally from North Carolina. She attended Bowling Green State University for her Bachelors degree, Fayetteville State University for her Masters and is currently at Liberty University for her Doctorate. She has one daughter, Ava, who is 13 years old. They have a dog named Ruby and a newly adopted cat named Etta. What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud Community What do you like to do outside of work for fun? Spending time with family, traveling, and camp time Favorite line from a movie? "You're killin' me smalls" - The Sandlot If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? My uncle What is something you learned in the last week? What "carousel" means in regards to Instagram (an Instagram carousel is a post containing more than one photo or video).

Employee Spotlight: Liz Hemdal Health Teacher at Brunswick Junior High School Liz lives in Augusta with her husband, Dan, their 7 year old son, Jordan, and their 1 year old daughter, Maisie. They have a dog named Walter, and two cats named Margaret and Betty. What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud I am proud to work in Brunswick because of how welcoming and inclusive everyone is! What do you like to do outside of work for fun? I love to spend time with my family. We enjoy hiking, geocaching, watching movies, playing sports, going to the beach, and playing games. I also enjoy podcasts, spending time with my friends, and am a huge fan of escape rooms! Favorite line from a movie? "Do or do not. There is no try" - Yoda (My son is a big Star Wars fan so I am trying to get on board) If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? Jonathan Van Ness. I think that they are hilarious and inspiring. What is something you learned in the last week? I learned that only 2% of people in the world have green eyes. I thought it was interesting since I have green eyes!

Kindergarten Registration for 2023-2034 is now open! https://www.brunswicksd.org/o/kfs/page/kindergarten-registration

Employee Spotlight: Flavia Assi - Ed Tech, Kate Furbish Elementary School Flavia and her husband, Victorien, have four children - Amaris-Noah, Audrey-Madeleine, Anne-Victoria and Angela-Grace. She is originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and graduated from the Statistics Institute of Kinshasa in the DRC. What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud What makes me proud to work in Brunswick is the possibility of helping and contributing to the Community. What do you like to do outside of work for fun? After work for fun, I like swimming, traveling, gardening with my family. Favorite line from a movie? "If you're a bird, I'm a bird" - The Notebook If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? Michelle Obama What is something you learned in the last week? What I learned is how to manage a large class with young students.

Employee Spotlight: Ashley MacArthur Kindergarten Teachers, Kate Furbish Elementary School Ashley and her husband, Chris, have four children - Hayden, Isaiah, Jude and Evelyn. She is originally from Newport, Oregon and attended the University of Maine at Augusta. What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud I am really excited about the work Brunswick School Department is doing with diversity and equity. Being new to the district, I am also thankful for the support I have felt transitioning to a new school. What do you like to do outside of work for fun? I love going to the beach, hiking, photography, baking, watching old movies, and drawing! Favorite line from a movie? "For it is plain as anyone can see, we're simply meant to be." - The Nightmare Before Christmas If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? Frida Kahlo What is something you learned in the last week? I have been learning to make loom bracelets with my daughter, and have also been learning how to play the ukulele.

Employee Spotlight: Catherine Schillinger - Ed Tech 3, Kate Furbish Elementary School Catherine grew up in Richmond and attended the University of New Hampshire for her undergraduate degree. What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud I'm proud to work with a dedicated team with a shared goal to do our best for our students. What do you like to do outside of work for fun? Swimming in ice cold lakes and rivers, going on short hikes with great views, growing my own salads and raising monarch butterflies. Favorite line from a movie? "Just keep swimming" - Finding Nemo If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? I would meet with my grandmother, who was a teacher and one of the people who inspired me. I have so many questions I wish I had asked her. What is something you learned in the last week? How good the pastries are at Wild Oats!

Employee Spotlight: Kathy Wade Bulloch Food Service Employee Kathy is originally from Louisiana! Her and her husband, Joe, have one son and two grandchildren. What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud The people and environment. What do you like to do outside of work for fun? Spending time with family. Favorite line from a movie? "Let's go" If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? Doris Day What is something you learned in the last week? That I work with a great team!

Brunswick Schools will be Closed Due to - Another Winter Storm - Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Our proposed last student school day is June 15, and the BSD staff's last day is June 16. Be Safe!

Employee Spotlight: Colin Cundy Ed Tech 3, Harriet Beecher Stowe School Colin is originally from Cundy's Harbor and he attended the University of Southern Maine for his undergraduate degree. He currently lives in Brunswick with his partner and they have a rescue hound dog named Honey. What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud I am proud to work in a community so like my own, one that I already feel a part of. I am also proud to work in a community that is so dedicated to its students and teachers. What do you like to do outside of work for fun? I'm a big runner, language learner (German and Hungarian), film lover, and reader. I also love to train and hike with my dog. Favorite line from a movie? Rosebud...... If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? Maine's own John Ford. I am a former Bart and Greg's DVD Explosion employee and a fan of his non-westerns (although some of his westerns are great too). What is something you learned in the last week? I learned that the House of Seven Gables in Salem actually had eight gables from Colin Dickey's Book Ghostland.

Brunswick Schools will be Closed Due to Winter Storm - Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Be Safe!

Employee Spotlight: Rich Osmer, Tech Support/IT at Kate Furbish Elementary School Rich is originally from Wantage, New Jersey and attended The State University of New York at Albany. What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud It's a very welcoming town. What do you like to do outside of work for fun? Games, movies, reading, hiking Favorite line from a movie? Hard to pick one. Just about any line from Clue. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? Richard Feynman What is something you learned in the last week? How difficult soldering can be on small electronics.

Classroom Highlight - Community Outreach at BJHS Here's an example of Student Engagement in our Brunswick Community! Students from the Community Outreach class worked with Mr. Mac's class on a project. They wrote a letter to Hancock Lumber for donations and built a picnic table to give as a gift to the Brunswick Town Hall! Thank you to @hancocklumber and to Mr. Mac's class for completing a successful project! #teambrunswickme #maine #liveworkmaine #studentengagement #juniorhigh #publicschools #schoolsuperintendent #educationleadership #brunswickmaine