Testimonials

"Dr. Harrison brings a unique combination of strategic thinking, operational excellence, and genuine care for employee welfare. His collaborative leadership style fostered trust among staff at all levels, while his innovative approach to problem-solving consistently yielded creative solutions to complex challenges. He demonstrated unwavering integrity in all personnel matters and maintained the highest standards of confidentiality and professionalism. Dr. Harrison's tenure at RSU 21 represents a transformational period in our district's history. He took an antiquated system and built a modern, efficient, and employee-focused HR department that serves as a model for other districts. His strategic vision, technical expertise, and exceptional leadership skills make him an invaluable asset to any organization.

— Dr. Terri Cooper, Superintendent of Schools, RSU 21

"Scott Harrison served the Maine Department of Education as a highly effective and valued resource. He successfully assisted the Department with the development of policies and plans for educator effectiveness and educator equity. He is a gifted systems thinker and his insights helped inform Maine’s plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act. Scott’s knowledge, expertise and positive approach with human capital management and talent development has had an enduring impact on many Maine school districts in their journey toward transformation."

— Rachelle Tome, former Chief Academic Officer, Maine Department of Education

"I worked with Scott while on the RSU 21 School Board as a member of the HR Committee, and during contract negotiations. Scott's approach to solving human resources issues is strengths-based, and grounded in motivational inquiry. He led one of the biggest undertakings in our District - developing and elevating the HR department to support a massive initiative, which involved modernizing our application process for prospective candidates, and bringing a new payroll system online, successfully transitioning all employees in the District into the system, moving us away from an antiquated system. Both of these projects were completed in tandem, were not without their challenges, and Scott saw them through, ensuring employees had a reliable means to track time, pay and benefits, and to expedite the application process to recruit top talent. Scott's thoughtful, calm presence helped keep everyone rowing in the same direction, during both a shift in systems, and culture."

— Erin Nadeau, Past Chair, RSU 21 Director

"Lewiston Public Schools worked closely with Scott Harrison in the development and implementation of our teacher evaluation and professional growth (TEPG) system . Throughout this process Scott helped facilitate our work with the latest research, templates for consideration, access to experts and collaboration opportunities with other school districts. His guidance and contribution helped ensure that our TEPG system remains strong today and fosters continued growth in our educators."
— Bill Webster, Superintendent of Schools, Lewiston Public Schools

"It was a privilege to work alongside Scott as we implemented a new payroll, human resources, and timekeeping system. It was a thoughtful process that required long-range planning, critical thinking, milestone marking, layered implementation, stakeholder feedback, and communication. Scott's ability to drive organizational meetings, gather diverse points of input, assess critical factors, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines was invaluable. This project would not have been possible without his leadership. Even at the most difficult of times, Scott found ways to manage the problem by investigating alternatives and testing out possible solutions. Above all, Scott's availability and response time was first-rate. He was always available to answer questions and be a hands-on learner and problem-solver. Because of his vision and efforts, the District has successfully transitioned from an antiquated, paper-heavy, limited functionality payroll system to a robust, modern, all-encompassing employee-centric payroll, benefits, timekeeping, and document system."

— Gwen R. Bedell Gadbois, CPA, CFE

"Dr. Harrison’s kindness as our district HR Director is evident in every interaction, as he approaches challenges with empathy and a genuine desire to help others succeed. His competence shines through in his ability to navigate complex situations with grace, always prioritizing kindness in decision-making. Dr. Harrison has been an incredible asset to our community and will be missed deeply!"

— Leah Bares, RSU 21 Director, Kennebunk

"As a former RSU 21 School Board member and continuing decade-long citizen member/participant on several RSU 21 Committees, I have conversed with Scott Harrison frequently during his employment as RSU 21’s Human Resources Director. By attending the HR Committee’s and School Board’s monthly meetings I learned about Scott’s comprehensive plans to create an official HR administrative function... Scott’s vision and attention to detail in successfully leading this extensive multi-year effort to modernize these HR functions supporting all RSU 21 employees is a clear indication of likely success for whatever future endeavors he undertakes."

— Jack Reetz, RSU 21 Community Member / Former School Board Member

"Scott Harrison's calm, thoughtful demeanor belies his passion and expertise for supporting stakeholders in the development and maintenance of a quality educator effectiveness program. With a deep understanding of what accomplished educators should know and be able to do to provide quality learning experiences for students as well as how they can commit to professional learning and growth for themselves, Scott is the ideal facilitator to support a district ready to take on this challenge."
— Sherri Gould, Literacy Specialist, RSU 19

"For the past three years I have had the great privilege of working under Scott Harrison for RSU 21’s human resource. Scott has made a positive impact during his time here. He has empathy, he’s understanding and listens to all, he communicates clearly and articulately. He is able to solve problems prompt and efficiently. Scott has incredible leadership abilities and anyone who has him on their team at work is very lucky to be able to work alongside of him."
— Terri Baird, Union President, RSU 21 Custodial, Maintenance, and Grounds Association

“It has been a privilege to see the extraordinary outcomes for RSU21 that have resulted from Scott’s strong skills and work ethic. Staff now know a depth of human resource support and a scope of services that are not widely available to an educational entity. His deep knowledge of human resource practices, his commitment to integrity, and his creative strategies are reasons why the RSU21 Human Resource Department has developed into a model that others are choosing to emulate.”

— Diane Franz, RSU21 Director, Kennebunkport

"Scott is a master of listening to others, works to understand the root of a problem and employs solid de-escalation tactics. His presence and approach provides a safe harbor during the most impassioned debates."

— Chris Pasciuto, RSU 21 Transportation Manager

"The outcome of the project was an outstanding series of documents that will be the resources for teacher and principal improvement and evaluation. I expect the system will be in place and successful for many years and decades to come. The instruments are excellent and have been used extensively in our district for the past 5 years."

— Frank Boynton, Superintendent of Schools, Millinocket School System

"Scott Harrison was incredibly supportive during my first year as a director. His guidance through challenging employee discussions and his help in implementing streamlined and equitable hiring practices were invaluable. Scott's expertise and mentorship have made a significant impact, and I highly recommend him for his exceptional HR skills and support. "

— Katherine Turner, RSU 21 Nutrition Director

"Scott's extensive knowledge and experience in alignment and integration of professional development, compensation and performance evaluation systems along with his group facilitation skills were essential in RSU 74's success in the implementation of our multi year TIF project. Faculty, Board and administration all appreciated Scott's ability to help groups with diverse perspectives to come together and build consensus around system change. From a personal perspective I always knew I could count on Scott as an impartial and objective sounding board who would give candid and productive reflection on both process and product."

— Ken Coville, former President, Goodwill Hinkley

"Scott Harrison's impact as the RSU 21 Human Resources Director has been profound and lasting. From our initial phone interaction for the interview, through the onboarding process, and throughout my employment, Scott consistently demonstrated compassion, understanding, and genuine passion for his role. His open-door policy and encouragement to bring forward ideas for improving HR processes fostered a collaborative and innovative work environment. Scott's honesty and integrity make him an invaluable asset to any professional team..."

— Rachel Bratter, RSU 21 Director of Special Services

"Scott brings a great combination of expertise, local knowledge, and passion to the work of supporting talent development and systems change in Maine’s highest need districts and schools. He is a great thought partner and leader with a solutions-oriented approach that helped the Maine Schools for Excellence districts build sustainable models for attracting, supporting, and retaining excellent teachers and leaders."

— Dana Chambers, TA Provider and Talent Management Consultant

"Dr. Harrison's knowledge and integrity were critical values during contract negotiations and his professional attention to detail provided valuable comparison data and data organization. Scott's personal, professional attention to the team(s) in the room provided for cooperative discussion."

— Gayle Spofford, RSU 21 Director, Kennebunk

"I believe that it is important for school leaders to promote and recognize exceptional performance and, to that end, I believe that all of us who have been involved with Scott in the past would agree that he is, and will continue to be, a person who should continue to be at the forefront of educational change in the years to come. Never have I had the opportunity to work with someone who I would consider to be as successful in the role of change agent!"

— David Murphy, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, MSAD 44

"When Scott Harrison was hired to set up and head our HR department many people were angry that the district was using money the Board could have used to upgrade the salaries of our teachers, but more importantly increasing the pay scale for our district Educational Technicians . Being the Educational Technicians president at that time, I was concerned that the district had hired another person that would not listen to our concerns and understand our needs. I could not have been more wrong! Dr. Harrison took what my negotiating team presented quite seriously. He did his research and collected data pertinent to our negotiations, presented the information to the school board negotiators and Ed. Tech. negotiators in a professional, non adversarial and reasonable manner. In the end, Dr. Harrison was instrumental in upgrading our Ed Tech. positions and increasing our salaries so they were competitive and in line with other school districts in the area. He actually listened, understood our concerns and did something about it. Losing Dr. Harrison as our HR director leaves a huge hole in our administrative department..."

— Robin Vaughn, President, RSU 21 Educational Technician Association

"Scott Harrison understands the connection of human capital management to effective delivery of education. His knowledge and skills has helped schools throughout the state improve the alignment of their vision for education to their hiring practices and has helped districts to incorporate innovations for recruiting and retaining educators."

— Anita Bernhardt, former Director of Standards and Instructional Support, Maine Department of Education

"When Scott came to our district, he did a market analysis which led to a new wage structure for our Ed Techs, making our pay competitive with nearby districts for the first time. I had the opportunity to meet with Scott on interview teams and for personnel meetings: he is always empathetic and respectful of the various voices and viewpoints in the room."

— Jennifer Niese, RSU 21 Educational Technician

"Scott Harrison has the rare ability to bring diverse stakeholders together to do great work. In the Maine Schools for Excellence Project he directed, teachers, district and school leaders, SEA staff, consultants, and higher education all worked together to develop tools and relationships that will benefit all of Maine’s schools long after the project ends. He understands both change management and cutting edge strategies to improve educator human capital management."

— Tony Milanowski, Ph.D., former Teacher Incentive Fund Technical Assistance Provider

"Scott Harrison is a high energy individual with a unique ability to get the best thinking out of individuals and groups. Not only does he fully engage participants in the process, but he can focus groups on the mission and outcomes of a project - both short and long term. His ability to carefully communicate results and celebrate progress makes him an effective leader. "

— Peter Geiger, Executive Vice President, Geiger and former Chair, Maine State Board of Education

"The MSFE initiative has ushered in new ideas and progressive ways of doing things around use of data for measurement, feedback, accountability, organizational and professional growth, recognition and reward, and Scott’s leadership has been at the center of every aspect of the work. Though not an educator “by trade,” Scott’s consistent approach of listening to understand, coupled with his deep knowledge of approaches to employee pay systems and overall project management has made him an invaluable resource for district steering committees as they have navigated uncharted waters of human capital management systems."

— Sue Williams, NBCT, Chief Academic Officer, Lewiston Public Schools

"I found Scott to be a strong, collaborative leader with a clear vision of the work that he clearly communicated and consistently used to guide and drive all decisions. Scott’s skill with change management and ability to genuinely connect with people were invaluable given the challenge of this work and personnel initially resistant to the changes being asked of them. Even when expressing stress with the demands of this project, stakeholders' respect and affection for Scott were evident. I believe this was a result of Scott’s knack for listening to people, being able to ascertain what they truly want and need, and ability to reconcile this with the requirements of the project and with fidelity to the vision. I was often impressed with Scott’s ability to problem solve in innovative ways to ensure personal success of those involved as well as the success of the program."

— Jane Blais, NBCT, former Math Teacher, Auburn Middle School

"The work of Maine’s Schools for Excellence districts is transformational. It also is a guidepost for the teaching profession. Anchored in National Board Standards, these model programs represent a compelling vision of accomplished teaching and leadership, promoting a culture in which everyone improves."

— Dr. Ron Thorpe, former CEO National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

"I have been able to develop a greater appreciation of the intense work needed to happen in order to have greater student outcomes. I have had the opportunity to work with a variety of stakeholders as we dig down into the details of teacher effectiveness, staff professional development and teacher incentives. I have been able to reflect on my own practice as a teacher and as a leader at my school. I have felt that my voice has been heard as our group has had one resounding goal throughout the process...to improve student learning."

— Amanda Winslow, Principal, Farwell Elementary, former Grade 1 teacher, Montello Elementary School, Lewiston Public Schools

"I have been a school leader for over 25 years. In the past three years, I have spent more time learning and reflecting on effective teaching and how I can support it than I have in my entire career. Working collaboratively across roles to define effective teaching practice has emphasized our common goal of student learning. The opportunity to view and analyze classroom practice with my fellow administrators has sharpened my understanding of evidence rather than judgment. The work overall has given teachers and administrators a common language to discuss classroom practice."

— Susan B. Martin, former Chief Academic Officer, Lewiston Public Schools

"I worked with Scott Harrison for 4 plus years on our district's leadership team working towards incentive-based pay and changing the way teachers are evaluated and rewarded. Scott was extremely knowledgeable and when he did not have the answer he found it in a timely manner. His ability to lead our group without leading our group is a testimonial to how he makes working with him a collaborative effort. He always was professional and his demeanor was exquisite."

— Jay Edgecomb, Physical Education Teacher, MSAD 24

"I got to see Scott in action as my counterpart in Directing a TIF 3 grant for Maine. His ability to actively listen, connect and thoughtfully analyze contributed to the success of the first program that led to renewed funding for a second grant. His strong background and many years of experience in finance, performance pay, and human resource management was a key asset that built trust and buy-in from the educators and state leaders resulting in systemic changes in Maine's educator performance and pay practices."

— Wendy Russell former TIF 3 Director

"Scott was a valuable and supportive asset to our district as we implemented our new teacher evaluation program. Through his guidance, we have a great system in place for teachers and administrators as we move forward with new state requirements. Scott was an important part of our team and was approachable and easy to work with. I enjoyed collaborating with him to brainstorm and solve problems."

— Elaine Ferland, Principal, Crescent Park Elementary School, MSAD 44

“Scott is a wonderful collaborator, thought partner and leader who is committed to ensuring an effective and supported educator workforce for all students. Scott’s expertise in human capital management and alternative compensation, coupled with his deep contextual knowledge of Maine and active engagement of key stakeholders has helped Maine’s districts make lasting and positive change in education.”

— Ellen Cushing, TA Provider and Talent Management Consultant

"Working with Scott is a delight. He is encouraging, open to new ideas, and has in-depth knowledge of professional growth for teachers in the 21st Century in order to make system-wide effective change."

— Sarah Ricker, Student Assistance Coordinator, Maine Department of Education, former TIF Coordinator, RSU 12 and Wiscasset School Department

"Over the past several years, the Wiscasset School Department has worked closely with Scott Harrison in our efforts to provide student learners with access to the highest quality instruction. With professional support from Scott and his team, the Department was able to develop and sustain a systematic approach to educator effectiveness that is focused on growth and grounded in learning."

— Heather Wilmot, Ed.D. Senior Director, TeachUnited, former Superintendent of Schools, Wiscasset School Department

"We, at MSAD 11, are thankful for the leadership of Scott Harrison and his educator effectiveness team in guiding us in the creation of the policies, systems, and best practices that make up our robust teacher effectiveness system. The supports, ideas, and coaching they provided also positively increased the awareness and confidence in our administrative team's ability to provide feedback to teachers that is actionable and impactful."

— Patricia Hopkins. Superintendent of Schools, MSAD 11

“Scott is passionate about making a positive impact on students through his work with school administrators and teachers. In my experience, he is extremely professional, genuine, thoughtful and thorough. An active listener, Scott works collaboratively with stakeholders to develop creative and effective approaches to support teacher and student performance using innovative compensation strategies.”

— Jackie Little SPHR, SHRM-SCP, IPMA-SCP Human Resources Director, Maine State Legislature

"I had the opportunity to work with Scott Harrison for five years as a recipient of the TIF Grant. I always found Scott to be positive, organized, and focused on results. His meetings were always productive, and he was a tremendous ambassador for the evaluation system across the State of Maine."

— Carl Landry. Superintendent of Schools, MSAD 55

"Scott Harrison is highly skilled at not only bringing together stakeholders from extremely diverse backgrounds but at getting them to dig in, come to a shared agreement, and implement meaningful changes that get results. While, of course, the stakeholders in his work with Maine Department of Education, local education agencies and schools were responsible for the work, without Scott’s leadership and support, I am confident the project would not have been as successful. On more than one occasion, our technical assistance team that supported Teacher Incentive Fund grantees held up not only the work of Maine Schools of Excellence, but also of Scott. In addition to this skill, he is a national expert in human capital management systems and change management—both within and outside of education. On top of all of this, it is a true pleasure working with him. One of the strongest compliments I can share of his work are words of a Maine superintendent with over 30 years of education service who said he had never worked with a better leader or been part of a better project (TIF implementation)."

— Darcy Pietryka, Senior Study Director, Westat

“I have known Scott for over 20 years. We have worked as colleagues in the fields of organizational consulting and human resource management. Scott has always impressed me and our clients with his knowledge and professionalism. Apart from excellence in his areas of specialty knowledge, he has distinguished himself by his inherently respectful approach to others and his uncanny ability to bring together people with disparate perspectives and enable them to find common ground and develop solutions to problems they all can support.”

— Raphael L. Vitalo, Ph.D., President, Vital Enterprises

“Scott did a masterful job of keeping us all on target, on budget, and on time. And, in the end everyone believes that his or her issues were heard and acted upon in a fair and open manner. He is a consummate facilitator. He listens carefully, articulates the issues, and brings consensus to groups that have divergent interests. He is able to keep everyone focused on a goal when distractions and side issues could have easily sidetracked us. He did this in a very respectful but firm manner. The outcome is that everyone feels good about the process and outcome.”

— James C. Fox, Ph.D., Managing Director, Fox Lawson & Associates

“Scott has excellent planning and communication skills. He has made this project a highly inclusive, consensus-based and data driven effort. He has the big picture view of organizational strategies and goals, as well as an in depth understanding of all the detailed work it takes to achieve the goals. Throughout the project he has worked effectively with all the stakeholders, who have developed a high level of respect for his work. His interest and advocacy of education are clear in his work.”

— Tracy B. Bigney, former Chief Human Resources and Organization Development Officer, University of Maine System

"In working with Scott over the past two years, he has demonstrated an ability to engage and seek consensus from widely disparate groups while still keeping the UMS compensation project moving forward. This project has involved leading management representatives as well as employee bargaining unit representatives from three bargaining units through a change process involving one of the most sensitive of human resource areas, how we classify and pay employees. Through his calm and collegial leadership style and extensive detailed work behind the scenes, Scott has gained the trust and confidence of both management and labor representatives in this endeavor and has positioned us well for full implementation of a new classification and compensation program in the next fiscal year. I think I speak for everyone involved in the project when I say that Scott’s leadership and initiative will be sorely missed when his contract expires.”

— Tamara J. Mitchell, former Executive Director of Human Resources, University of Maine at Fort Kent