Scott Sevigny, a Maine State Teacher, Wins the Teaching Excellence Award for 2007

FORT KENT - Recently, Scott Sevigny, a social studies teacher at Community High School at Fort Kent, was honored with the Maine Education Association's Teaching Excellence Award. The award is given to the one Maine teacher who best meets the MEA's criteria of Teaching Excellence.

To be considered for the award, teachers must be nominated by their local teaching associations and submit a lengthy application.

This is a prestigious award that has a history of recognizing Maine's greatest educators by maintaining high standards and strict criteria for its selection of teachers. According to the MEA, the organization looks at five categories: professional practice, advocacy for the profession, community engagement, leadership in professional development, and attention to diversity. Those around Sevigny believe he deserves the award.

According to The Maine Educator, Philip Bouchard, president of the local education association to which Sevigny belongs, said, "He treats all his colleagues and students with the utmost respect."

Timothy Doak, principal at CHS, supports that statement.

He observes, "Mr. Sevigny has approached his teaching career with a very simple philosophy: students come first. No matter the position of teacher entails, Mr. Sevigny always completes his work with enthusiasm and eagerness."

Sevigny redirects the honor, though, showing respect for his colleagues, students, and profession.

"I'm surrounded with students and colleagues and a community who hold and value education. So because they set the bar high, it makes all of us as educators excel. It's not about me; it's about the profession," he said.

His reverence for education drives him to excel, as he places the profession above himself.
Bouchard notes, "Driving by Community High School on most Sundays, one will find Scott's car parked in front of the building as he is working to get all his plans in order for the week. He usually spends minimally four hours, and sometimes, eleven hours, each week-end working on making sure he is organized for the upcoming week."