Bar Harbor Says Thank You to a Tireless Advocate for Its Children
With Kindness and Grit, Simis Leaves School Board to Champion New School Build
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by The Witham Family Hotels Charitable Fund.
BAR HARBOR—”Keep moving. Be kind to yourself. Stay well.”
Those three short sentences have been a bit of School Board Chair Lilea Simis’ mantra for a few years now.
You'll see it on one of her Facebook posts featuring flowers and eagles and the things she sees on her walks.
You’ll hear it when you talk to her. Sometimes it’s just the “be kind to yourself.” Sometimes it’s the “stay well.” She’s been known to abbreviate.
And you’ll witness it in her interactions with other people and animals and in her service on the school board.
On Monday, it was the last meeting Simis will chair since she chose not to run again and instead focus on fundraising for the new school, which began under her tenure.
“It has been my absolute pleasure to work alongside Lilea as we’ve chaired our respective committees. Over the past six years, she has dedicated countless hours to serving the best interests of our children, school staff, and the broader community,” said Bar Harbor Town Council Chair Valerie Peacock, Wednesday.
“There are no easy solutions when it comes to the complexities of public education, and Lilea has helped lead us through some of the most difficult challenges: the COVID-19 pandemic, DEI work, teacher contract negotiations, and, of course, the building of a new school. During those deliberations, I once said at a town council meeting that I had a new respect for the past community members who made the difficult decision to build our last school. Now, as we watch the new building rise and imagine what it will mean for our children and our community, I hope we remember Lilea’s work and the gift she’s helped create for the next 50-plus years,” Peacock said.
In front of the rest of the school board and dozens of parents gathered for a presentation, Simis, blushing and laughing, received thanks from Vice Chair Marie Yarborough.
“We really just wanted to say thank you for your many, many years of service, compassion and passion,” Yarborough said. “The passion you had to help make CE the best possible place.”
It was a bit of a turnaround because Simis is usually the one doling out the appreciation to others, bringing in cake or sparkling water to commemorate big events for the school or for the people who serve it.
“She’s really unwavering in her support of the children,” Yarborough said.
Simis’ unwavering support for Bar Harbor, Town Hill, and Mount Desert Island kids happened well before she was elected as a write-in candidate in 2016, but it’s continued in a very public and visible way these last nine years as the school moved to rebuild itself, taking the decision for the multi-million bond to the voters who resoundingly approved it. Simis handled it all with a quiet kindness and grace.
“I have always believed the best investment we can make is in the next generation(s). Someone did the work to enable me to have a successful elementary public education and I was compelled to do that for the kids of our community,” Simis said Tuesday.
“Another thing I love about you,” Yarborough is the ability to take out all the stops and call something as she sees it.
School Superintendent Mike Zboray agreed Tuesday on that assessment.
“From the moment I became AOS 91's superintendent, I knew I could rely on Lilea for her honest, thoughtful, and compassionate take on school matters,” Zboray said. “She's always been someone who isn't afraid to speak her mind. Lilea has been a model board member, deeply committed to Conners-Emerson School while also championing the needs of the whole school district. I'll keep stopping into the Town Hill Store on my morning trips to school (not only for an egg sandwich) but also to hear her invaluable insights on our schools and community. We'll certainly miss her voice.”
She is also the co-owner of Town Hill Market.
“As a resident, I’m most grateful for Lilea’s approach to both big-picture challenges and day-to-day details. She leads with kids at the center of every decision. She’s a lifelong learner, unafraid to ask hard questions—even when they make us uncomfortable—because they push us to reflect and improve. She listens, learns, and isn’t afraid to change her mind. She leads with empathy and passion. She's kind, funny, and generous—lightening tough moments with a joke and always ready to lend a hand. We've been lucky to have her,” Peacock said.
“Lilea is such a champion for our school and our community. We will certainly miss her in the role of school board chair, but am grateful she is taking on the fundraising committee for the new school project,” said Principal Dr. Heather Weir Webster.
Simis is also a person who sets goals. In 2021 she decided to walk 2021 miles in the year. She did it. She decided to get help from the town staff to fundraise for the new school. She did it. And now she’s focusing on raising donations to help with the school build after the community resoundingly approved up to $58 million in school bonds.
“I am honored to have served Bar Harbor and our district for the past nine years. I have learned so much, and enjoyed many great relationships with the other dedicated members of all of our school boards in the district. I will be turning my focus to raising funds to help offset the cost of the AWESOME new school in Bar Harbor,” Simis said Tuesday.
Approximately 30.7% of Bar Harbor residents voted June 13, 2023, with a 1,005 to 502 vote in favor of constructing new buildings to replace the deeply ailing Conners Emerson buildings.
“I am just excited that we can begin to feel the support for our kids. I am really hopeful that it will inspire others to give as well,” Simis said when the school received its first big donation.
“I love to tell people that the three highest elected positions in Bar Harbor are held by women. I’ll miss working with Lilea in her role on the school committee, but we all know she’ll continue to serve our community and our kids—because that’s simply who she is,” Peacock said.
All photos: Carrie Jones/Bar Harbor Story
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Oh Lilea, thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Be kind to yourself!
Thanks Lilea 💕