Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 welcomes new Superintendent Robert Kahler July 1. Outgoing Superintendent Keith Laser will retire June 30. Kahler graduated from University of Maine in Orono in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and from University of Southern Maine in 2004 with a master’s in educational leadership. He comes from nearly six years as principal at Lisbon Community School.

Before that, he served as principal at Livermore Elementary School (now Spruce Mountain Primary School) for four years, principal at Tripp Middle School for two years, assistant principal at Durham Community School and assistant principal and co-curricular director at Lisbon Elementary School for six years.

With most of his days busy readying LCS’s change in leadership and preparing for his daughter’s wedding, Kahler has been trying to make appearances and acquaintances throughout AOS 98.

“I'm looking forward to digging in and getting to know the communities,” he said. “I haven't had the opportunity to spend as much time up here as I'd like, but everyone has been incredibly welcoming and open and hardworking and none of that comes as a surprise. It's as advertised: hardworking, committed and willing to do what it takes to get jobs done. And that's what small schools have to do.”

Kahler has worked in many roles as an educator in special, alternative and general education in addition to leadership roles, and the biggest lesson is that changes for the better can only come from within. “You sort of reach a point as a building principal that you have a certain amount of ability to change things and so I was really looking for a place to stretch and grow and to find a very community-based education.”

Leaving LCS in good standing for the next principal is top priority especially with the vast amount of change brought on by the pandemic, said Kahler. Lisbon schools were fortunate to remain open most of the year and that experience has sparked optimism because teachers will go above and beyond for their students, said Kahler. “It's more a confirmation of what I already knew: Given the resources, support and encouragement they need, teachers will do everything they can for their kids. Not that that's new news … it played out in schools across the country.”

Coming from a larger school with an enrollment of about 600 students from pre-k to fifth grade alone, Kahler acknowledged the challenge he has ahead of him sharing his attention with five schools. The most important part of the job is keeping as strong a connection to the students, staff and school administrations as possible, he said. To keep those connections, Kahler said he plans to schedule work days in the schools when possible and make occasional smaller appearances on each campus to keep himself and the schools engaged together.

“That way I'm there for the day, I can help out if needed and just get to know the community … So it might even be just seeing the kids get off the bus in the morning at Georgetown or Edgecomb … I really need to get to know all the communities, the staff and the kids.”

In the weeks since the AOS 98 board made its unanimous vote to hire Kahler, he said he has been taking suggestions for good places to eat and sights to see, since he is also fond of scenic painting. Born in Fort Dix, New Jersey, Kahler said he had his first birthday in Westbrook and his mother has roots Downeast. Now he lives in Lisbon Falls and said he is happy with the 50-minute drive each way. Georgetown Central School will be his shortest commute at around 35 minutes and Southport the longest at nearly an hour. However, that is not much of a hurdle for someone who listens to Maine Public Radio on the way to work, he said.

“They call this a commute? People come from all over the world to see this, so as commutes go, it's a nice one,” Kahler laughed. “AOS 98 has many small schools with fiercely proud communities. That was sort of my first administration experience as well, so I was looking for a chance to return to that in a different role. I'm very excited to get started.”