Dennis Crowe was a teacher, coach and youth sports official before retiring as Gorham’s director of technology June 30, during a career in education that spanned 40 years.

Crowe spent 14 years as director of technology for Gorham schools, according to Superintendent Heather Perry.

“Over those years, Dennis worked brilliantly to bring the Gorham Schools into the 21st century with our technology infrastructure, hardware, staffing and professional development,” she said. “Under Dennis’ capable leadership, the Gorham Schools have become one of the top schools in Maine regarding technology integration and utilization in our classrooms.”

Crowe came to Gorham School Department from Bonny Eagle High School. Former Gorham Superintendent Ted Sharp hired Crowe in 2008.

“I had known Dennis as we had been basketball officials, and I also knew of his work in technology in SAD 6,” Sharp said. “Dennis did a truly outstanding job as director of technology in Gorham during my tenure as superintendent. He is knowledgeable, innovative and has a good work ethic … and a good sense of humor.”

Crowe said the internet represents the biggest change he’s seen.

“I watched the whole thing unfold since the beginning,” he said.

Technology is a tool to be used, he said.

“Good technology does not replace good teaching,” he said. “We want our kids to think through problems. Learn to think to solve problems.”

He said the next “big conversation” is virtual reality, which is starting but has only scratched the surface. As an example, he said he could stay home while visiting anywhere in the world.

“I put on a set of goggles, I’m at the Grand Canyon,” he said.

In Gorham, he linked all the district’s school buildings via fiber optic cable, which quickly transmits data with light.

“It’s the biggest project I undertook in Gorham,” he said.

Crowe is a Gorham native and a 1976 graduate of Gorham High School, where he was a classmate of Gorham Fire Chief Ken Fickett. Crowe recalled regularly playing chess with then-principal Phil Dugas and remembered science teacher Carl Estes as his mentor.

He launched his career by teaching math in Arundel in 1981 and, five years later joined the faculty at Bonny Eagle Middle School. He later became the technology director for School Administrative District 6, which includes Standish, Buxton, Hollis, Limington and Frye Island.

His Gorham boyhood days stir memories. The son of a former Gorham constable, Crowe was a member of the Gorham Fire Department and briefly served as chief of Gorham Rescue.

As a young man, Crowe worked for Barney’s Auto Service at the intersection of State and Narragansett streets, Mr. G’s IGA on Main Street, and in Flaggy Meadow Farm hayfields for dairyman Carroll Young.

Sam Rigby, who previously worked for the Westbrook School Department, has taken over for Crowe, who relaxes these days by playing golf at the Val Halla course in Cumberland.

Reflecting on his duties in technology, he said he missed teaching students.

“I didn’t have direct contact as much as I would have liked,” he said.

Crowe said there’s no question today’s kids are different than those in the past.

“They have a connection they never had before,” he said in reference to technology, and he’s “really happy” every Gorham student had an electronic device, whether it was a computer, iPad or Chromebook.

“Even kindergarten kids,” Crowe added.

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