Former RSU 21 School Board member Dawn Therrien hired as district's new HR director

KENNEBUNK, Maine — Dawn Therrien, a former School Board member, is the new human resources director for RSU 21.

The School Board approved Therrien for the position during a special meeting on Friday, Aug. 30. She had her first day on the job on Tuesday.

Therrien will make an annual salary of $137,917, according to RSU 21 spokesperson Matthew Shinberg.

Therrien served on the School Board from 2020 to 2023 and chaired its Human Resources Committee for two years. She also represented the School Board as chief negotiator and worked on collective bargaining agreements throughout the district’s five unions.

In an email on Tuesday, Therrien said she is excited to join the district, which comprises the Kennebunks and Arundel.

"I am truly excited about the opportunity to join this outstanding organization,” she said. “With 15 years of experience in human resources across various industries, I bring a fresh perspective to the district. I am eager to leverage this expertise to build upon the strong foundation that exists within our HR department.”

Therrien said she is impressed by the dedication and professionalism of the district’s HR team.

“My goal is to enhance these strengths while identifying areas for improvement,” she said. “I believe in the power of diverse perspectives and look forward to engaging with all stakeholders to ensure that our HR initiatives align with the broader organizational goals and values."

Superintendent Terri Cooper said she is excited to have Therrien join the district.

“Dawn has proven to be a valuable member of the RSU 21 community,” Cooper said. “I am confident that Dawn will hit the ground running because of her extensive HR experience and her commitment to the RSU 21 mission.”

Therrien earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from West Chester University in Pennsylvania and a master's in public administration from Bowie State University in Maryland. She is also a Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional, according to the district.

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Therrien succeeds Scott Harrison, who resigned from the position in July after three years of service to the district. In his letter to colleagues, Harrison said he made his decision to leave the district “with a heavy heart.”

Harrison praised Cooper’s leadership and criticized some of the behavior he witnessed throughout the district.

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

In an email to the Coast Star, Harrison elaborated, saying the “unprofessional conduct” consistently had been directed toward him and the Human Resources Department during daily interactions.

Harrison said he hopes to see a “stronger collaboration” between the district’s employees and its HR department in the future.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Former School Board member Dawn Therrien hired as RSU 21's HR director