CUMBERLAND — School Administrative District 51 will lose an award-winning administrator when Kimberly Brandt, who has worked in SAD 51 since 1999 and served as principal of Greely Middle School since 2005, becomes assistant superintendent in Regional School Unit 16 on July 1.

“It’s hard; I’ve been the principal here for eight years, and I do love it here,” said Brandt, 52, who lives in Poland Springs. RSU 16 includes Poland, Mechanic Falls and Minot.

“(SAD 51 is) a wonderful place to work, (with) a lot of support from everyone, from families and from staff … but I saw the opening in my community, and I thought … ‘I’d like to check this out,'” she said Tuesday. “As much as I love it here, this is the next step in my career path, and I look forward to the new learning.”

Brandt, who was honored last year as Maine’s Middle Level Principal of the Year, had been a Spanish and French teacher, teacher leader and acting assistant principal before becoming Greely Middle School principal. Prior to that she taught in Maryland.

As a teacher, she said, she felt she could impact all the students in her classes; as a principal, she could expand her influence to the entire school, Brandt said.

“And so, the idea of being at the assistant superintendent level, I can potentially impact all of the students in all of those schools,” she explained. “That’s very appealing to me. Plus, it’s my own community, and I look forward to bringing what I’ve learned … to those families and students.”

SAD 51 Superintendent Robert Hasson on Tuesday called Brandt’s resignation “a tremendous loss to the Cumberland-North Yarmouth district. We’re very, very happy for her, and her new challenge in RSU 16. She’s been an incredible leader, fantastic principal, and (has) also done a lot district-wide.”

“Her focus on literacy, professional learning and school climate has resulted in a middle school that is really exemplary,” he added.

The SAD 51 community has been “incredibly kind and supportive,” Brandt said. “I just feel full of gratitude about my experiences here, and it’s been an honor. … I will miss everyone.”

Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.

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Kimberly Brandt, who has been principal of Greely Middle School in Cumberland since 2005, will become assistant superintendent of Regional School Unit 16, which includes Poland, Mechanic Falls and Minot, on July 1.

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