Dr. Claude Berube Named Head of School at Saint Dominic Regional High School

LEWISTON, Maine – The Board of Directors of the independent Saint Dominic Regional High School (SDRHS) are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Claude Berube as Head of School, effective January 1, 2026. Dr. Berube, a respected educator, author, and naval historian, will lead SDRHS through its next phase of revitalization for education in the catholic tradition.

Dr. Berube retired last year from the U.S. Naval Academy with twenty years of teaching experience and has served as an adjunct graduate-level professor with the Naval War College and the Institute of World Politics. A retired Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and former intelligence officer, his military honors include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and three Navy Commendation Medals, among others. During his tenure as Director of the U.S. Naval Academy Museum, he received the Navy’s Meritorious Civilian Service Award. Dr. Berube also completed three tours on Capitol Hill, serving in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. He currently serves on the board of the Senator Margaret Chase Smith Foundation and is a member of the Knights of Columbus.

A Lewiston-Auburn native, Dr. Berube graduated from St. Dom’s in 1984. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Saint Anselm College, master’s degrees from Northeastern University and the Naval War College, and his doctorate in history from the University of Leeds in England. He has long ties to the community. The grandson of French-Canadian immigrants to Lewiston-Auburn, Dr. Berube’s father was in the first class of St. Dom’s in 1941 and his mother represented Lewiston in the Maine State House and Senate from 1970 to 2000 and served for several years on the Finance Council of the Diocese of Portland, Maine.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Berube as our Head of School,” said Sean Andrews, Chair of the SDRHS Board of Directors. “His unique combination of academic excellence,
leadership experience, and commitment to the catholic intellectual tradition makes him the right person to guide us at this pivotal moment. His passion for forming young people in both character and scholarship for two decades at the U.S. Naval Academy aligns perfectly with our mission.”

As Head of School, Dr. Berube will oversee the strategic plan to strengthen enrollment, expand academic offerings, restore a robust curriculum, while building a supportive community culture. The initiative includes new partnerships to provide students with faith formation, advanced learning opportunities, and mentorship.
Dr. Berube added, “It is an honor to serve the faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and students at a moment when families are seeking schools that deliver academic rigor, character growth, and a commitment to excellence. We may be opening the next chapter in a new building and as a new independent organization, but the spirit and soul of Saint Dominic continues. We are re-lighting a beacon of catholic education.”
SDRHS, located at 184 Main Street in Lewiston, Maine, will host an Open House on January 15, 5:30P-7:30P, welcoming prospective students, parents, and alumni to tour the building and meet Dr. Berube.
FMI, please visit Saint Dominic Regional High School – Continuing the legacy.