Maine’s Bill Diamond: Former teacher, school superintendent, and state politician. Photo credit: The Bridgton news.

Many fine educators have also made a name for themselves in politics. One of these is Bill Diamond, a former teacher who also served in both the Maine State House of Representatives and the Maine State Senate.

Bill was born on Feb. 19, 1945, in Gardiner, Maine. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Gorham State Teacher College in 1968. He earned his first Master’s degree from the University of Main, Port/Gorham in 1972. He earned a second Master’s from the University of New England in 1964, and completed post-Master’s courses at the University of New England in 1998.

Once he earned his degrees, Bill worked for 20 years in the field of education, including in positions as teacher, principal, and superintendent. From 1968 to 1986, Bill taught in Windham Public Schools. He later served as the Superintendent of Public Schools in Raymond, Maine.

Bill was elected on the Democratic ticket to the Maine House of Representatives in 1976, where he served until 1982. That was the year he was elected to the Main State Senate, where he served until 1986. In 1989, he was selected to be Maine’s Secretary of State, and he was re-elected four yeas later. In 2004, the former educator was re-elected to the Maine State Senate. In 2014, he was elected to serve in Maine’s State Senate representing the  26th District in Cumberland County. During his lengthy political career, Bill has served several terms on the Transportation Committee, he was Senate Chair of the Criminal Justice Committee for four years, and he served for two years as Senate Chair of the Appropriations Committee.

For most of his political career, Bill has focused on balancing the state budget and protecting children placed in the care of the state system. His concern for the welfare of children is something he carried from the classroom into the legislature. “We must pass laws to protect our children from sexual and physical abuse, especially children under state care, which includes supporting our foster care program,” declared Bill in a 2020 interview published by Bridgton News.

Bill Diamond: A true Chalkboard Champion.