The Need:

What happens to youth who, because of their traumatic histories and profound learning and behavioral challenges, cannot function and learn within a traditional school setting? For many students, our public schools are places where they can thrive and build the foundation for a great life. For some, traditional public schools offer a constant stream of challenges and triggers that cannot be overcome. What happens to those students? Many find themselves unable to access their middle or high school. Some choose to drop out. Some accept home tutoring. Some are expelled. The most fortunate find a school that works for them. MapleStone is such a place.

The Commitment:

In 2003, Current Board Chair Nils Pearson and former Director Keith Davis took it upon themselves to offer such students another option: MapleStone. Nils and Keith had a vision of running a student-centered, non-profit school for students who needed a dramatically different approach to learning. Their mission was to assist students who require an alternative learning environment by using a personalized approach to experiential education. MSAD 60 sponsored the school for its first year. In 2003 the school became credentialed by the State of Maine and in 2004 the school received its 501(c) 3 status.

A Vision Realized:

Today MapleStone is a special purpose, private, publicly funded, non-profit school, well regarded across our region. Our school is usually an alternative to conventional school on the publicly funded, k-12 educational journey for the students we serve. We provide high-need special education Middle /High School students with a highly supportive, intimate, family-style school environment. Traditional school did not work well for our students. Over the last 15 years, we have worked to improve the lives of more than 300 at-risk students from 26 school districts.