WELLS, Maine — The Houlton-area school board is poised to confirm the former assistant superintendent of SAD 1 in Presque Isle and the current superintendent of the Wells-Ogunquit School District as its new choice to lead RSU 29.
According to an agenda sent out by the district on Friday afternoon, a motion to confirm Ellen H. Schneider as the new superintendent is listed under new business. If the board confirms her, Schneider will replace RSU 29 Superintendent Mike Hammer, who announced in January that he would resign at the end of the school year after four years with the district.
The school board for RSU 29, which serves the communities of Houlton, Hammond, Littleton and Monticello, hired Hammer on Feb. 23, 2011, and he began his duties on June 21, 2011.
Hammer cited the strain of being away from his family as a significant factor in his decision. His wife, Julie, a physical education instructor at Ellsworth High School, remained with their two children in the Ellsworth area while Hammer relocated to Houlton to take the job.
Schneider has 33 years of professional experience as an educator working in SAD 1, SAD 32 in Ashland and in the Wells-Ogunquit area.
In addition to 11 years as an elementary special education teacher, she has been a special education director, assistant principal, principal and curriculum director.
During her time in Aroostook County, she was principal at Bridgewater Grammar School in Bridgewater shortly before its closure and worked as assistant superintendent of schools in Presque Isle.
Schneider graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington with a bachelor’s degree in K-12 special education and elementary education. She earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Southern Maine.
Schneider, who joined the Wells-Ogunquit district in 2013, will resign effective May 6, according to a statement released to the Portland Press Herald and other media outlets by the district’s school committee. The statement said she would take a job in northern Maine to be closer to her family, but did not elaborate further.
Schneider was out of the office Friday and was not available for comment, her secretary said.
RSU 29 board Chairman Fred Grant did not return a call seeking comment Friday afternoon.