Dennis Dacus is an experienced and respected physical education teacher in Maine, and he is now the new Boothbay Region High School physical education teacher.

Dacus grew up and graduated from Winslow High School in 1986, where he was a successful multi-sport athlete. He went onto college, but soon dropped out and enlisted in the National Guard, where he was on active duty from 1994 to 1999.

Eventually Dacus went back to school at the University of Maine at Augusta where he worked toward a bachelor’s degree in social studies. During this time, Dacus was offered a job as a long-term substitute P.E. teacher at Cony High School.

During that stint, Dacus fell in love with P.E. and decided the traditional classroom setting was not the right fit for him. He enjoyed the energy and environment P.E. classes had. So he went to the University of Maine and received a master’s degree in kinesiology and physical education.

Like his unconventional path to teaching P.E., his path to Boothbay was also unique. His son just graduated from Cony this past June, which posed a perfect time to move on from the school where Dacus began his teaching career 16 years ago. Dacus was excited to find a new challenge, a new project to jump into.

He had intended to go into administration, and was looking for athletic directing jobs when he heard of the opening at BRHS. It peaked his interest due to the location, the size of Boothbay and taking on a new challenge. Dacus decided to keep teaching, so he applied and got the job.

Dacus is excited to bring his wealth of knowledge and experience from Cony to Boothbay. He hopes to reshape the P.E. classes to include not only the exercise and fitness basic to a gym class, but also sportsmanship, leadership and how to build up your character. Dacus stressed, these personal qualities are what he hopes his students pick up.

While the upcoming year will be mostly a learning opportunity for Dacus, he eagerly looks forward to trying out some programs he worked on at Cony. “This year is absolutely going to be me scoping out the school, getting to know the staff, the administrators and, of course, the kids.” He spoke of the wide differences between Cony and Boothbay, and how it will take some adjusting on his part, particularly as he is going from a school of 1,000 students to a school of 200. 

He leaves behind strong programs and successfully run events, when he was involved with student government, Key Club and winter carnival. He also has coached basketball, baseball and volleyball. 

In his free time, Dacus has been officiating football, basketball and softball, for 23, 16 and three years, respectively. Dacus also works out daily.