Kelly Anchors has received many happy returns from her decision to change careers and go from middle school life sciences teacher to tennis instructor several years ago.

Four years after being named Professional Tennis Registry New England tennis pro of the year, the Old Town resident has been selected as PTR Maine pro of the year.

The director of junior programs at Bangor Indoor Tennis Club has been in Maine just two years after moving here from Alaska, but she has already helped to drastically increase BITC membership numbers as well as demand for court time.

“I didn’t even know I’d been nominated until I was notified about that I won it,” said Anchors, who was working in Brunswick when she won the PTR New England award. “It’s basically in recognition of promoting tennis in Maine.”

Anchors has done that and then some, especially when it comes to children.

“We’ve definitely exploded in terms of number of kids involved in our programs. We probably have around 80 now and that’s probably tripled, roughly,” Anchors said. “When I took the job, there was nothing happening in the way of after-school programs, and now our courts are full for two to three hours after school is out.”

Anchors also wants to dispel some of the popular myths or stereotypes about tennis.

“Tennis has traditionally been thought of as an elitist sport and the shortness of Maine’s outdoor season is a factor, so a lot of my push is to develop programs that are inexpensive, more easily accessible and year-round,” she said.

Anchors said her biggest push is geared toward the ages 8-11 group.

“And that’s where the numbers are really exploding,” said the self-described former military brat. “Definitely my passion is youth programs and teaching kids basic skills who have never picked up a racket.

“Even just from a business standpoint, you want to get people interested at a young age because it is a lifetime sport.”

Anchors, who helped start a high school team when she was in Alaska, is also a PTR professional instructor (clinician and tester). She picked up a racket for the first time as a junior high school student.

Anchors will accept her award at a national symposium and awards banquet in Hilton Head, S.C., next week.