SeDoMoCha students stick it to the principal

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Soon after walking into the gymnasium for a mid-morning assembly on the final day of school on June 14, SeDoMoCha School Principal Adam Gudroe found himself in a sticky situation. To celebrate the school’s growth on the Northwest Evaluation Association tests, a section of duct tape representing every grade level point increase was used to adhere Gudroe to the wall to see if he could be held in place about a foot off the floor.

With the elementary and middle school student bodies gathered in the gym, Assistant Principal Cameron Archer mentioned this would be Gudroe’s last day of classes at SeDoMoCha before he departs at the end of the academic year to become assistant principal/athletic director at Dexter Regional High School. 

“For every point you increased your test score this year, we are going to use half a roll of duct tape to tape Mr. Gudroe to the wall,” Archer told the audience to a roar of applause and laughter. Archer said the plan would be a surprise for Gudroe, who was still in his office across the building. He said SeDoMoCha’s NEWA scores rose 4,402 points combined across the various grade levels.

“We are going to count down from 10, Mr. Gudroe’s going to come in, you guys are going to cheer, and then we are going to start duct taping him to the wall,” Archer instructed the students. 

Upon coming into the cheerful ovation, Gudroe was directed toward a small green stool. He could see what was about to happen and agreed to take part as students and staff came forward for turns applying strips of duct tape of varying colors to Gudroe and the wall.

Superintendent Stacy Shorey went last among everyone and she and grade 3 teacher Diane Stephen removed the stool Gudroe was standing on. Quickly some of the duct tape snapped as Gudroe’s feet fell to the floor (he still needed assistance being cut loose).

Gudroe had spent six years serving as SeDoMoCha principal. He previously served half a dozen years as assistant principal/athletic director at the Ridge View Community School in Dexter, which also houses both elementary and middle school grades, in Dexter. A 1999 Dexter Regional High School graduate, Gudroe taught math and coached — including five seasons as the head wrestling coach at his alma mater — in SAD 46 before becoming an administrator.

In his resignation letter to the RSU 68 Board of Directors, Gudroe wrote about his desire to become a leader at a secondary institution and an opportunity came up that he would regret not taking.

During the annual district budget meeting last month, Shorey said that Archer will succeed Gudroe.  Davan Walker will become assistant principal after having served as student success coach. Grade 2 teacher Cecilia Dube will transfer to the student success coach position.