Senator Collins Visits Students at Leroy H. Smith School in Winterport, Congratulates Maine Elementary Principal of the Year

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Winterport, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Leroy H. Smith School in Winterport this morning to meet with students, teachers, and staff.  She also congratulated Principal Dawn Moore on being named the 2018 Maine Elementary Principal of the Year.  Leroy H. Smith School serves approximately 315 pre-kindergarten through fourth grade students from Frankfort and Winterport.

During her visit, Senator Collins participated in an assembly with second, third, and fourth grade students, where she presented Principal Moore with an American flag and a certificate that recognizes her recent achievement of being named the top elementary school principal in the state.  Senator Collins then presented her slideshow, “Days in the Life of Senator Susan M. Collins.”  The presentation gives students an opportunity to see some of the work she does on a daily basis, including meeting with Mainers, touring Maine businesses, chairing Senate hearings, and speaking on the Senate floor.  Following the presentation, Senator Collins read Antlers Forever! to first grade students and visited with kindergarten and pre-kindergarten classes.

“The faculty, staff, and students at Leroy H. Smith School were extremely welcoming and showed a strong commitment to academics, excellence, and fostering a healthy school environment,” said Senator Collins.  “It truly brightened my day to meet with so many enthusiastic students who shared a passion for learning and asked great questions during the assembly.  The message that I want these young children to know is that they should believe in themselves and they can be whatever they want to be, including a Senator.  I was also delighted to recognize Principal Dawn Moore for her tireless work to make a difference in the lives of her students.”

Senator Collins has visited more than 200 schools throughout Maine during her Senate service and has long led efforts to honor our nations’ public schools and improve our education system.  In March, Senators Collins and Jon Tester (D-MT) joined students, teachers, and administrators from across the country to celebrate Public Schools Week, a nationwide initiative to highlight the importance of America’s public education system. 

Last month, Principal Moore was named the 2018 Maine Elementary Principal of the Year for her inventive ways of creating a productive learning community where everyone feels respected.  She has worked in education for 25 years and has been Principal of Leroy H. Smith School for the past seven years.