Sanford Regional Technical Center Administrative Assistant Darlene Breton has been named the 2026 Maine Principals' Association Administrative Assistant of the Year. The award recognizes school administrative professionals across Maine who demonstrate exceptional dedication, leadership, and service to their school communities. Breton has served SRTC since November of 1983, making her one of the longest-serving staff members in the center's history. Over that time, she has worked alongside every director the school has had and has witnessed SRTC grow from approximately 300 students to nearly 800 today, serving families across eight partner communities throughout York County. "I am deeply honored to receive the MPA Administrative Assistant of the Year award. I am sincerely grateful to be part of the Sanford Regional Technical Center, where I have proudly served since 1983," Breton said. "This recognition is a reflection of the collaborative spirit and dedication of my colleagues. Most importantly, I remain thankful for the students we serve, who continue to inspire and remind us of the importance of our work." In his nomination letter, SRTC Director Matthew Petermann credited Breton with keeping the school's complex day-to-day operations running seamlessly across all 25 of its programs. "Her leadership is steady, reliable, and indispensable," Petermann wrote. "She does so without fanfare, ensuring that every teacher, every student, and every program has what it needs to succeed. That is leadership in its truest form." Petermann also spoke to the personal qualities that make Breton such a valued member of the SRTC community. "She is an exceptional listener who takes the time to truly hear the needs of those around her — whether it is a staff member navigating a difficult situation, a student seeking support, or an administrator working through a challenge. Her patience is remarkable, and her ability to remain calm and composed in the face of a demanding, fast-paced environment sets a tone of stability and trust throughout our building." "The Sanford Regional Technical Center is a better school because of Darlene Breton," Petermann added, "and Maine's students are better served because of people like her."

SRTC's Darlene Breton Named 2026 MPA Administrative Assistant of the Year

Sanford School Department

May 6, 2026

Sanford Regional Technical Center Administrative Assistant Darlene Breton has been named the 2026 Maine Principals' Association Administrative Assistant of the Year. The award recognizes school administrative professionals across Maine who demonstrate exceptional dedication, leadership, and service to their school communities.

Breton has served SRTC since November of 1983, making her one of the longest-serving staff members in the center's history. Over that time, she has worked alongside every director the school has had and has witnessed SRTC grow from approximately 300 students to nearly 800 today, serving families across eight partner communities throughout York County.

"I am deeply honored to receive the MPA Administrative Assistant of the Year award. I am sincerely grateful to be part of the Sanford Regional Technical Center, where I have proudly served since 1983," Breton said. "This recognition is a reflection of the collaborative spirit and dedication of my colleagues. Most importantly, I remain thankful for the students we serve, who continue to inspire and remind us of the importance of our work."

In his nomination letter, SRTC Director Matthew Petermann credited Breton with keeping the school's complex day-to-day operations running seamlessly across all 25 of its programs. "Her leadership is steady, reliable, and indispensable," Petermann wrote. "She does so without fanfare, ensuring that every teacher, every student, and every program has what it needs to succeed. That is leadership in its truest form."

Petermann also spoke to the personal qualities that make Breton such a valued member of the SRTC community. "She is an exceptional listener who takes the time to truly hear the needs of those around her — whether it is a staff member navigating a difficult situation, a student seeking support, or an administrator working through a challenge. Her patience is remarkable, and her ability to remain calm and composed in the face of a demanding, fast-paced environment sets a tone of stability and trust throughout our building."

"The Sanford Regional Technical Center is a better school because of Darlene Breton," Petermann added, "and Maine's students are better served because of people like her."