AUGUSTA, Maine — Dr. Steven Pound, chairman of the Maine State Board of Education, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the National Association of State Boards of Education. The award was presented at association’s national conference in Chicago on Oct. 12. The award is given annually to a state board of education member in recognition of outstanding service to public education.

In addition to serving as chairman of the Maine State Board and on the association board of directors, Pound sits on 20 other boards that relate in some way to education and career development. Among these are the State Workforce Investment board, the board at Eastern Maine Community College, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Council, and the Maine Youth Transition committee.

Pound’s 40-year career in education includes service as a middle and high school teacher, a coach, athletic director, lecturer in career and technical education, vice principal, principal, adjunct professor, early childhood education business owner, adult education teacher and director, district superintendent, and more in the United States, Great Britain and Canada. He was named Quebec City Region’s Principal of the Year in 1985-86 for doing the most for education and athletics, and runner-up for the award for the entire province. He also was honored by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education with its Distinguished Service Award for Canada in 1997.

Pound is employed by Cianbro Corporation in Pittsfield as associate director for workforce development with the Cianbro Institute.  He grew up in Millinocket and lives in Greenville where he was superintendent of schools for School Union 60.

For information, visit the State Board of Education.