The day after the superintendent of Westbrook schools accepted a job in other district, the Westbrook High School principal announced he’d be leaving, as well.

Principal Jon Ross told his staff and the district’s School Committee on Friday that he accepted a job as the combined superintendent and principal in Acton, a district with one school that serves grades pre-K through 8, said Westbrook Superintendent Marc Gousse.

On Thursday, Gousse accepted an offer to become superintendent of the Mount Desert Island Regional School System.

Both administrators start their new jobs July 1.

Gousse served as principal of Westbrook High School for 10 years, before becoming superintendent in 2011.

The district then hired Thomas O’Malley, a New Hampshire middle school principal, to lead Westbrook High School, but he resigned after a year.

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Ross, who had been the district’s longtime director of adult and alternative education and had served as interim principal, was named high school principal in 2012.

“Very mixed emotions leaving this place,” Ross said Tuesday. “I love Westbrook High School.”

However, he said, he aspired to become a superintendent and the Acton job — a new position created in place of a full-time principal and part-time superintendent – was the right opportunity.

Judie Shain, chair of Acton school board, said the position had 15 applicants of which seven were interviewed, and “he came out on top, hands down.”

Now in charge of about 750 high school students at a salary of $103,000, Ross will take over a district of 214 elementary school students at a salary of $112,500.

Shain said Ross’s experience with proficiency-based learning, his leadership skills and his personality all made him “the perfect fit.”

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Also this year, Matt Nelson, who had been the Westbrook Middle School principal since 2010, left the district to become assistant superintendent in Sanford in January.

Despite the turnover in administrators, Gousse said, there are still several strong leaders in the district.

“Westbrook will be OK,” he said.

Leslie Bridgers can be contacted at 791-6364 or at:

lbridgers@pressherald.com

Twitter: lesliebridgers


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