RSU 21 HR director resigns, citing ‘highly unprofessional’ behavior in school district

KENNEBUNK, Maine – Director of Human Resources Scott Harrison is resigning from RSU 21, the latest of a number of employees to do so in recent months.

In a letter to colleagues dated July 26, Harrison explained, “with a heavy heart,” his decision to leave the district. Calling his time with RSU 21 “challenging,” Harrison praised Superintendent Terri Cooper’s leadership and criticized some of the behavior he said he witnessed throughout the district.

Harrison also said he has seen RSU 21 go through an “incredible transformation” over the past 3 1/2 years and expressed his gratitude to everyone who helped him build the district’s Human Resources Department “from the ground up.”

“I have not made this decision lightly,” Harrison wrote.

Harrison’s last day will be September 1.

Harrison’s resignation is the latest of several in the district in recent months. Most recently, Kennebunk High School Principal Jeremie Sirois resigned, as did several KHS guidance counselors. RSU 21 spokesman Matthew Shinberg recently reported that the advisor positions have been filled and that the search for a new KHS director is ongoing.

According to Shinberg, 37 district employees resigned between late April and mid-July. Of those, 24 were teachers, specialists and administrators, and 13 were non-certified district staff, which includes education technicians, transportation staff, administrative assistants and nutrition workers.

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Harrison’s resignation comes as many district educators oppose Superintendent Cooper’s leadership, saying he is focusing too much on the needs of his central office, with an emphasis on human resources and public relations, and not enough support for teachers.

Teachers and community stakeholders voiced their displeasure at School Board meetings, in letters to the editor and during media interviews. They said teachers are underpaid and micromanaged and don’t feel respected or supported.

Critics of the district said the resignations were due to low morale. Cooper said the resignations are in line with trends in education across the state and nation. She also added that the reasons for resignations ranged from retirements to relocations to exits from education altogether.

In his letter to colleagues, Harrison offered a different perspective on Cooper.

“She is an incredible educator and a consummate professional,” Harrison said. “But above all else, he cares deeply about this district, its students and its staff.”

He thanked Cooper and the School Board members for their support.

In an email Monday, Cooper praised Harrison, calling him “one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet.”

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HR director finds time at RSU 21 ‘challenging’

In his letter, Harrison called human resources a “relatively new field in education, especially in Maine.” He said his team and the district had “accomplished amazing things.”

“I am extremely proud of the work done by my team and colleagues,” he said.

Harrison said he and his team have upgraded several of the district’s systems, including launching a new online career site, “which has processed over 2,200 applications since inception.”

Harrison added that the district also created a job assessment and professional learning platform, moved to an electronic payroll service and created the district’s first open electronic enrollment for benefits, digital contracts and letters of assurance .

But Harrison said his experiences in the district were “particularly challenging.”

“I have witnessed behaviors in this district that I believe are counterproductive and extremely unprofessional, inconsistent with our stated core values,” he said.

In an email to the Coast on Monday, Harrison explained, saying the “unprofessional behavior” was constantly directed at him and the Human Resources Department during daily interactions.

“This behavior has been going on since the department was established three years ago,” Harrison said. “Despite this, we have managed to build an efficient and functional service for all staff at RSU 21. What I think has been lost in the conversation is that the Human Resources Department is here to support and assist staff, not to be a barrier to them.”

Harrison, who will return to consulting this fall, said he hopes to see a “stronger collaboration” between district employees and his human resources department going forward.

“I believe that fostering this partnership can foster a culture of fairness and mutual understanding within the district,” he wrote. “To those who have already taken steps in developing this relationship, I express my gratitude.”

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This article originally appeared on the Portsmouth Herald: RSU 21 HR director resigns citing ‘grossly unprofessional’ behavior