New assistant
principal named
for high school

GORHAM  — Christina Cifelli has been selected as an assistant principal at Gorham High School.

Cifelli was one of two finalists for the job from a field of 25 applicants, according to Superintendent Heather Perry. Cifelli fills the vacancy left by the retirement of Kimberly Slipp.

Perry said Cifelli comes to Gorham from Edward Little High School in Auburn. Her appointment to the Gorham post will likely be confirmed by the School Committee that meets for a workshop at 7 p.m. Wednesday after the American Journal deadline.

Cifelli, who is married and has a daughter, has 12 years experience in education and has served as a guidance counselor at Edward Little. She told the American Journal Wednesday in an email she is a “student-centered educator and a strong advocate” for  students and families.

“I have valued my role as a school counselor over the last nine years but was ready to make that transition to administration where I could support staff and students differently,” Cifelli said.

“The Gorham school district is well known for their invested interests in their students and their community and I knew I wanted to be in a school district that had the same beliefs as I did.”

Cifelli joins Ryan Watts as one of two assistant principal at the high school.

The first day of high school for freshmen is Monday, Aug. 28, and all other high school students start school on Tuesday, Aug. 29.

Four-vehicle crash
delays commuters

GORHAM — A vehicle driven by a Gorham man drifted into the opposite lane Tuesday in an accident involving three other drivers on Ossipee Trail/Route 25, police said. 

Joseph Moutinho, 19, was traveling westbound about 7:50 a.m. in a four-door Honda Civic and crossed into the eastbound travel lane, striking a four-door Toyota Corolla driven by Lindsay Wilkinson, 35, of Steep Falls head on and spinning that car out of control, police said.

Police said Wilkinson’s car then struck a Subaru Outback driven by Melissa Staples, 26, of Standish.

Moutinho’s car also struck a Ford F-150 driven by Margaret Lucier, 54, of Standish, police said.

The highway was temporarily shut down before re-opening to one lane.

“The accident caused significant delays and traffic backups during the morning commute,” Deputy Police Chief Christopher Sanborn said in the press release.

Sanborn said Moutinho was transported with minor injuries by Gorham Rescue to Maine Medical Center in Portland. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Baldwin man jailed
after dirt bike chase

Christina Cifelli is pictured with her husband, Todd Cifelli, and their daughter, Sienna, 6.