Kelli Deveaux, a former Maine Assistant Principal of the Year, will become the first female principal of Westbrook High School.

She replaces Jon Ross, who resigned to become the principal/superintendent in Acton. He had served as principal since 2012. Deveaux has been assistant principal at Windham High School since 2002.

The Westbrook School Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to hire Deveaux to the post. Superintendent of Schools Marc Gousse, who is also leaving the district this summer, said he was “proud” to nominate her. He said he’s known her for a number of years, and has “great respect” for her work.

Peter Lancia, Westbrook schools’ director of teaching and learning, led the hiring process, which received eight applicants. He said Deveaux was known by her peers for her “boundless energy.”

“She’s firm but compassionate,” he said, adding that she is also an “expert” in proficiency-based learning, which the faculty had requested in candidates. “We’re very happy she’s coming to our school district.”

Her salary will be just under $104,000.

Deveaux, a Gorham resident, said that because she lives close to Westbrook, she’s more easily in tune with the district. She also still expects to log long hours like she has in the past.

Gousse said that since 1873, Westbrook High School has had 19 principals, all male.

Deveaux said she hadn’t realized that until Tuesday, but said it gave her an added sense of pride for the new job. She will join assistant principals Wendy Harvey and Jennifer Brooks – also creating the first all-female administrative team at the school.

“It’s an amazing opportunity,” she said. “Gender isn’t a deciding factor, nor should it be, but it definitely feels like an honor.”

In 2014, Deveaux was named the Maine Assistant Principal of the Year by the Maine Principals’ Association. During the 2008-09 school year, she served as acting principal in Windham while the principal was out on medical leave. Prior to joining Windham, she was an English teacher and grant coordinator in South Portland.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s in Education from the University of New Hampshire. She has a certification in administration from the University of Southern Maine and is working toward her superintendent’s certification.

Kelli Deveaux