Gus graduated from Old Town High School in 1970, then went on to earn his B.A. in History and M.Ed in Counseling from the University of Maine at Orono.

1975-1979 - Gus began his career in education as a social studies teacher at Old Town High School, where he taught history and government and developed a Native American Studies curriculum.

1979-1980 - Gus served as a team leader for Teacher Corps at the University of Maine, where he helped field-train student teachers in real school systems.

1980-1987 - Gus served as director of student services and then assistant principal and athletics director at Dexter Regional High School. During this time he developed and supervised a comprehensive guidance program. He also coached the high school football team. During this time, Gus and his wife Patti welcomed their two children, Christina and Nicholas.

1981-1983 - Gus taught part-time as an Emergency Medical instructor, teaching CPR and basic certification requirements for EMTs and supervising license tests.

1987-1996 - Gus was principal at Leavitt Area High School. He arrived with aspirations of raising morale and improving reading and writing, as well as adding new playing and practice fields for athletics and a fine arts wing to the school. In his 1991 commencement remarks, he quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson when defining success: “To laugh often, love much, to win the respect of others, to find the best in others; to know that one life has breathed easier because you have lived.”

1996-1998 - In order to spend more time with his family and have more time to coach his children’s teams, Gus took a position as assistant principal and athletic director at Oak Hill High School, where his wife Patti taught English. In his keynote speech at Leavitt Area High School’s 1996 graduation ceremony, a few months after he made the decision to take on the position at Oak Hill High School, he told graduates that “learning about oneself is a journey like no other” and that his decision to move on “came from [his] heart,” and that “how we follow the road may be more important than the road we take.”

1998-2006 - Gus served as principal at Montello Elementary School, where he built strong relationships in the Lewiston community. He developed interventions for all students and focused on increasing literacy. He also enjoyed a meaningful partnership with Peter Geiger and Geiger Brothers, and always had fun with their Night of the Stars.

2006-2013 - Gus was principal at Lewiston High School, Maine’s largest high school, where he continued to strengthen his bonds within the Lewiston community. As part of his work he implemented interventions for underachievers and improved achievement overall, including graduation rates. He instituted Lewiston Academy and added an August graduation ceremony as a way of providing what was needed to those who needed extra time and extra help to graduate. He told the Sun Journal in 2006 as he took the job that he liked working with teenagers because they are “real[…], they’re full of life, [and] they embody our hopes and dreams.” He later remarked that his time in the Lewiston School Department was the most fulfilling of his career.

2009-2011 - Gus taught as a part-time adjunct instructor at New England College of Henniker, NH, leading courses in leadership, curriculum, and dynamics of learning environments.

2010 - Gus served as President of the Maine Principals Association.

2013-2018 - Gus served as Lee Academy’s headmaster. At various points during his tenure as Head of School, he also took on roles as Chairman of the Board for the Daegu International School in Daegu, South Korea; Chief Educational Officer of American International School in Subic Bay, Philippines; Chief Educational Officer of American Lee Academy International School in Shanghai, China; and Chief Educational Officer of Fushan Zhengda Foreign Language Primary School in Shanghai, China.

2020-2021 - In retirement, Gus returned to Lewiston High School as the interim principal to help the school transition back from the COVID-19 shutdown. He enjoyed the year spent with students at staff at his old stomping ground.

Fall 2023 - Gus substituted as Interim Dean of Students at Poland Regional High School, where he also coached the football team.

A lifelong educator, Gus was proud to be a student advocate and was also a member of various educational and MPA committees. During his career, he received numerous commendations, including a 2008 President’s Volunteer Service Award, a 2011 Pump Handle Award, a 2012 Student Advocate Award, and a 2020 Excellence in Teaching Award.