PRESQUE ISLE, MAINE — The Presque Isle Historical Society has chosen Bill Guerrette as their Director of the Year.
Guerrette, an eighth-grade English/language arts and social studies teacher at Presque Isle Middle School, was presented with a plaque on Feb. 17 in the presence of some of his students.
The Director of the Year is voted on by all historical society directors and presented in February annually.
Guerrette was selected for his volunteer efforts on behalf of the society.
Bill Guerrette displays the plaque he received as the Presque Isle Historical Society’s Director of the Year. (Contributed photo)
“Bill understands the importance of immersing youth in local history and has been actively involved in promoting local history to his students over the years,” said Kim Smith, Presque Isle city grant writer and historical society member.
In October, Guerrette presented at the annual conference of Maine Archives and Museums in Orono as part of the Innovative Youth Events Workshop on his “Amazing (History of Presque Isle) Race” event that he has run for numerous years.
All eighth-grade students take part in the event, which runs over the course of several days and involves a scavenger hunt around town on mountain bikes during which the students have to answer questions about local history to obtain the clue to their next historical destination. The event was recently featured on Maine Public Broadcasting.
His students have also participated in book reading discussions about the Civil War, created a narrated GIS tour of historic downtown Presque Isle, prepared a GIS map of the Presque Isle Army Air Base, and scanned and catalogued historic photographs for the historical society, as well as other projects.
Guerrette is also involved in a number of other organizations, including as a board member of C.A.N.C.E.R. (Caring Area Neighbors for Cancer Education and Recovery), is a member of the Presque Isle Knights of Columbus Council 2524, and a merit badge counselor for the Boy Scouts.
The Presque Isle Historical Society, an all-volunteer 501c3 non-profit corporation, was founded in 1963. Its mission is to study, promote and preserve the history, culture, heritage and artifacts of Presque isle for present and future generations.
For more information visit www.pihistory.org, call (207) 762-1151 or email pihistoricalsociety@hotmail.com.
