UNION, Maine — Regional School Unit 40 confirmed longtime educator and Maine native Daniel Welch as the new district superintendent at a special board of directors meeting and closed-door executive session Tuesday.
Welch, who was present for the vote, thanked the board members and said he looked forward to working with them.
Welch grew up in Mattawamkeag and has lived in Boothbay since 2009. He is currently the head of school at George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill, where he has worked since 2024.
Before that he worked as the chief financial officer of Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, as principal of Boothbay Region High School for 11 years, and as a history teacher and then academic dean at Washington Academy in East Machias.
Welch has served in the past as president of the Maine Principals’ Association, and in 2017 the association named him Principal of the Year.
In an interview during the board’s closed-door discussion, Welch said he applied for the superintendent position at RSU 40 because he knows the community has pride in its schools, the district is very student-centered, and there is a strong school community.
In a news release Tuesday evening, the board of directors said Welch stood out as a candidate because of his strong professional background and experience in educational leadership, as well as a demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively with members of the school district.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dan Welch to RSU 40,” the board’s chair, Danny Jackson, said in the news release. “Dan demonstrated a thoughtful understanding of our district, a clear commitment to education, and a collaborative leadership style. We are confident he will serve our students, staff, and communities well.”
The board said there will be opportunities for RSU 40 staff and community members to meet Welch as his start date approaches.
The board of directors voted 619-55 to approve Welch for a two-year contract as superintendent from July 2026 to July 2028 after a 15-minute executive session.
A similar executive session had been held Tuesday night after which the board approved by a vote of 595-290 moving negotiations forward with the candidate, who was unknown at that time.
Interim Superintendent Thomas Ambrose recently announced he would be seeking a job closer to his southern Maine home rather than applying for the permanent RSU 40 superintendent position.
Ambrose has held the position since last July, replacing longtime Superintendent Steve Nolan. Nolan took a position as superintendent of the Falmouth school district.
RSU 40 serves the towns of Union, Friendship, Waldoboro, Warren and Washington.
This story appears through a media partnership with Midcoast Villager.