Board Directors
Board Advisors
In addition to a strong founding board, three individuals will serve as non-voting advisors to the board. The advisors may not have the capacity to attend all meetings, but have an interest in the school, expertise that will assist the governing board, and the willingness to be a part of the governance process. A summary of the advisors and their expertise follows below:
Richard Abramson
Richard Abramson started his career in Maine education in 1977 as the director of special education in Gardiner. This was followed by his position as the executive director at the Kennebec Valley YMCA. Mr. Abramson then served as the superintendent of schools for three different school systems including Arundel and Wells, finishing his career in RSU #38 in Readfield, Maine, from 2001–2012. Mr. Abramson has held the position of adjunct professor at both the University of New England and the University of Maine at Orono, and he was also a Maine Distinguished Educator at the Maine Department of Education.
James P. Chiavacci
Jim Chiavacci served as the Director of the M.Ed. in Instructional Technology program at the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development where he designed and taught many of the courses in the IT program. He also worked with the special education department where he designed and taught adaptive technology courses. Jim was chosen as an Apple Distinguished Educator in 2000 and is known for his personable and witty classroom teaching style. He was the manager of professional development for PolyVision Inc. where he played a role in developing interactive whiteboard integration strategies for the classroom. Jim is currently the program coordinator for Wilkes University Classroom Technology and Instructional Technology Online M.Ed. programs. Jim holds a Ph.D. in instructional technology from the University of Colorado-Denver. He has presented at many international, national, and local educational conferences and is currently working with schools on their technology integration needs.
Tim C. Walton
Tim Walton is the director of external affairs and public policy for CIANBRO, a 100% employee owned construction services firm headquartered in Pittsfield, Maine. Founded in 1949, CIANBRO operates in over forty states and employs over 4,000 team members. In his position, Mr. Walton manages and directs the company's political, regulatory and governmental affairs, as well as its charitable and political budgets, and involvement with trade and industry associations. He is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with local, state, and federal government officials and serves as the company’s chief lobbyist while managing lobbying activity in multiple states.
Prior to joining the CIANBRO team, Mr. Walton was the president/CEO of Associated Builders & Contractors of Maine, a statewide construction trade association. He also served on the congressional staffs of United States Senator Olympia J. Snowe and former United States Congressman James B. Longley, Jr., where he was honored by the Disabled American Veterans for his outstanding service.
He is a graduate of the University of Maine system where he received a bachelor's degree in public administration. Combined with his education, he has an extensive background in communications, advocacy, political issues, and business management. He has instructed and lectured on a variety of subjects including government, history, management, public affairs, and politics.
