Wild Rice Stir Fry With Veggies

W. Gus LeBlanc, Headmaster Email: gleblanc@leeacademy.US

Mr. LeBlanc joins Lee Academy as the new Headmaster and brings with him a wealth of education and experience. A native of Old Town, Maine, he is a well-respected career educator who has held leadership positions at Leavitt High School, Montello Elementary, and Lewiston High School, as well as Dexter Regional High School, during his thirty plus years in education. Before becoming a Principal, his background included periods as an Assistant Principal and Athletic Director, a Guidance Counselor, classroom experience as a Social Studies teacher, an instructor for the Teacher Corps and an adjunct instructor at New Hampshire College. Gus, as he is known, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Masters of Education in Counseling from the University of Maine. Not long after graduation, he began his graduate work at the University of Southern Maine, followed by professional work at the University of Nebraska and San Diego State University. He has coached football, basketball,baseball, and track, winning two State Championships in football while at Dexter Regional High School. He is married to Patricia “Patti” Gaetani LeBlanc and they have two children, 29-year-old daughter Christina, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and a certificate in Communication from St. Anselm College and a Master of Arts in Mass Communication from the University of Maine, and 26-year-old Nicholas, who graduated from the University of Maine with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Math, and a received a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of New England. Gus and Patti enjoy sailing, whitewater canoeing, traveling, and the great Maine outdoors.

Harris “Butch” Arthers, Associate Headmaster/Director of Guidance Email: 

Associate Headmaster Harris “Butch” Arthers brings many years of educational experience to Lee Academy.  A 1972 graduate of Mattanawcook Academy in nearby Lincoln, Mr. Arthers went on to earn both a Bachelor of Science in Education with a concentration in mathematics and a Master’s in Educational Administration from the University of Maine.  His first teaching position brought him home to his alma mater, M.A., where he also coached wrestling, track, basketball and football.  His next stop was Marshwood High School, where he taught mathematics and coached track, basketball, softball and football.  Until he joined Lee Academy in 2010, Mr. Arthers held a variety of positions at Belfast Regional High School, including Athletic Director, Assistant Principal and Principal.  He was the head football coach at Belfast for 16 seasons, where he successfully led the team to three State Championships in 1996, 1999, and 2003.  In addition to his role as Associate Headmaster Mr. Arthers serves as theDirector of Student Services, where he oversees guidance, counseling, and testing functions, and he serves as Director of Residential Life.  He and his wife Angela reside in Lincoln and are parents to three grown children (Tony, Nick, and Jake) as well as grandparents to Landon and Maddox.  Nick and Jake both excelled at baseball at Husson University.  Nick is now a teacher and head football coach at Brewer High School, Jake is employed with Verizon, and Tony is enrolled in a program of studies for technology integration.

Ollie Faulkner, Dean of Post-Graduate Students and Academy Operations Email: 

Mr. Faulkner began his administrative career at Lee Academy in 2005.  He lives in Springfield with wife Lynn and Michael (ninth grade), Matthew (seventh grade), and Cayden (first grade).  The Faulkners’ daughter, Caitlin ’10, lives and works in Bangor.  Mr. Faulkner taught mathematics for nineteen years at various schools in Maine, and has coached several sports, including basketball.  Formerly, he was a Tech Prep liaison for community colleges around the state and served as an adjunct faculty member for both Eastern Maine Community College and Kennebec Valley Community College.  As Dean of Post-Graduate Studies and Campus Operations, he coordinates all transportation, daily scheduling and operations, and works with local districts and other sending units to do so.  He works closely with the Director of Maintenance to ensure campus care and preservation needs are handled, and with the Director of Dining Services.  He is also the school’s liaison for special education services andworkplace and campus safety.  Along with coach and program director Igor Vrzina, he manages all facets of the Post-Graduate program.  Mr. Faulkner graduated from Maine Central Institute, then the University of Maine, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education.  In addition to his administrative roles here at L.A., he is also Secretary to the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Safety Committee at Lee Academy, and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Group Trust for Insurance, an organization that serves Lee Academy and nineteen other member institutions.  He is past Director of the Eastern Maine Math Consortium for the State of Maine.

Randy Harris ’80, Athletic Director/Coach Email: randyharris@leeacademy.us

Mr. Harris graduated from Lee Academy in 1980 and went on to Husson University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation Management, in addition to receiving his certification to teach Physical Education from the University of Maine.  While a senior at Husson, he traveled to Lee each night to coach varsity basketball, beginning here as a full-time educator in 1985.  He lives in Lee with his wife Patty, daughter Brooke ’08, and son AJ ’11.  Mr. Harris particularly enjoys baseball, having played at Marietta College and at Husson, as well as in Florida in the minor leagues of professional baseball.  He is an avid golfer, has coached L.A. baseball for many years, and he loves the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing.  Mr. Harris serves as the Athletic Director and continues to coach Lee Academy boys’ varsity basketball.  His 2011 team won the Class C State Championship.  He also coached girls’ soccer for 13 years.

 Deborah Jacobs, Director of Admissions  Email: djacobs@leeacademy.us

Mrs. Jacobs has worked at Lee Academy since 1998 and has previously served as the Administrative Assistant to Admissions and Development, as well as Registrar and Guidance Secretary. Today, she is the Director of Admissions and oversees recruitment and admissions efforts for Lee Academy.  She also serves on the Technology Committee and shares her skills and knowledge about PowerSchool, the school’s student information system, as a teacher/staff trainer and trouble-shooter.  Prior to coming to Lee Academy, her experience included working as an administrative assistant for an oral surgeon, and as secretary in the emergency department of Maine Medical Center in Portland.  Ms. Jacobs and her husband, Bob, owned and operated Mill Stream Grocery in Springfield, Maine for more than twenty years, and she served on the Board of Selectmen for the town of Lakeville for several years.  Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs have two grown children, Travis ’99 and Tabitha ’96, along with six grandchildren.

 Kevin Ritchie, Dean of Academics  Email: kevinritchie@leeacademy.us

Mr. Ritchie lives on Lookout Mountain in Lee with his wife Kendra ’66. He graduated with a BS in Sociology and a minor in English from the University of Maine, where he later received his M.Ed in Educational Leadership.  Beginning his career at Lee Academy in 1981, Mr. Ritchie has tutored migrant students, and has taught ninth grade and college writing, all levels of English, AP Psychology, World History, and a fine arts course in popular musi