Mike Felton

About

In 2000, Mike began his career teaching middle school on Vinalhaven, Maine – an unbridged, island community of 1,200 year-round residents. He became the School Leader at Vinalhaven in 2005 and focused on shared-leadership governance and place-based education. In 2009, he was selected as a Gates Scholar and received his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 2012. Mike was hired as St. George Municipal School Unit’s first superintendent in 2015 after the district withdrew from a larger, regional district. In that role, he focused on developing partnerships with businesses, nonprofits, and civic organizations to better meet the needs of students and families.

While superintendent, Mike helped lead a community effort, in partnership with MidCoast School of Technology, to develop the nation’s first PreK-12 Career & Technical Education program. In August 2025, after a three-year campaign that raised over $4.6 million, St. George opened the GRACE Innovation Center—the building has shop spaces for boatbuilding, woodworking, and metalwork; and Makerspace with 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, robotics, and sewing machines; and a flexible classroom space. The project was selected as a finalist for the national Yass Prize and was featured in both national (e.g., Wall Street Journal and Fox Business News) and state and local media (e.g., News Center Maine, WABI TV, etc.).

The GRACE Innovation Center will not only serve students, but the entire community through adult education and workforce training programs as well as telehealth services integrated with community paramedicine. The Center was selected to serve as one of the state’s first Connectivity Hubs.

In July 2025, Mike transitioned to the roles of Executive Director of the GRACE Innovation Center and Executive Director of the St. George Community Development Corporation (StGCDC). As superintendent, Mike had worked closely with the StGCDC for years and understood the ability of the organization to foster community innovation, resilience, and wellbeing. The StGCDC also oversees the adult education, workforce training, and telehealth/paramedicine programming happening through the GRACE Innovation Center.

With the StGCDC, Mike has the opportunity to work at the nexus of community, education, and economic development alongside individuals, groups, and institutions that are developing locally tailored solutions to the most pressing issues facing our town, state, and nation – issues ranging from food security to workforce readiness and housing to healthcare.

Mike lives in St. George with his wife and two children. He enjoys time with his family, working out, and the quiet of the early morning hours. Mike is also the three-time Vinalhaven Pie Eating Champion.