CARIBOU, Maine — RSU 39’s superintendent, Susan White, will be stepping down later this summer and will assume her former position as principal of Limestone Community School.
White said she’s learned a lot over the past year, but feels deep down that she’s a principal.
“I want to be in a school and work with kids and teachers. I really miss that and I’m a school person is what it really boils down to,” she said.
She attributes no single incident that brought her to her decision and ultimately when she saw the opportunity to return as principal, she jumped on it.
White believes the business end of education is important. She just wants to follow her passion as principal. “I guess I didn’t realize how much I’d miss working with kids and teachers everyday,” she said.
She hopes her time as superintendent will make her a better principal and that having had the opportunity to look at the district as a whole will help her see the work that needs to be done, she said.
White said school board members were shocked when she informed them of her decision at last week’s board meeting. But she also said that they have been very supportive of her choice to go back.
RSU Board Chairman John Sjostedt said the board is saddened by White’s decision, but added “she’s been a terrific superintendent for the staff here. It’s been a tough year, but we’re supportive of her. She’s a great communicator and works wonderfully with teachers and students.”
White will be pulling double duty until the board can find a replacement later this summer.
She said she was very proud of her work over the past year, especially getting the ball rolling on the district’s new capital improvement project, and said most superintendents don’t get the chance to build a new school, and when it happens it’s the highlight of their career.
“I’ve been surrounded by great people,” she said, adding that, “at the end of the day, happy matters.”