YARMOUTH — Eric P. Klein has been hired as the next principal at Yarmouth High School.

Klein, who has been principal at Gray-New Gloucester High School since 2010, will start in Yarmouth on July 1. Current principal Ted Hall is retiring on June 30 after 10 years with the School Department.

At the end of the summer, Hall will begin working for Great Schools Partnership in Portland. 

“I wanted to make a change while I’m still fresh,” he said. “It’s about a new challenge.”

Hall said he wanted to try something new by doing school coaching, but he’s enjoyed his time as principal.

“I’ve been in public education for about 40 years,” he said. “I’ve loved it.”

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Superintendent of Schools Andrew Dolloff announced Klein’s hiring on Monday.

“(Klein) is an intelligent, articulate, and passionate educator who loved teaching and has been active as a teacher-leader, an adviser, and a coach,” Dolloff said in a press release. “His well-rounded background fits perfectly with the balance that we seek to provide through a diverse array of academic and co-curricular offerings at YHS.”

Prior to becoming a teacher, Klein was an English teacher at Scarborough High School for eight years and at Bonny Eagle High School for four years. He said he’s looking forward to working in Yarmouth.

“Having the opportunity to work in a community that demonstrates such an unwavering commitment to the education of its students will be rewarding and challenging at the same time,” Klein said in the press release.

Hall said this was one of the things he’s liked most about working in Yarmouth.

“It’s really an unusual community in that everyone really cares about the greater good of the schools,” he said.

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Klein said he likes the strength of the district and how the schools are always looking to do better.

“I’ve been impressed by Yarmouth High School’s willingness to continually reflect and refine its educational practices to improve learning opportunities for students,” he said.

A search committee responsible for hiring Klein included two students, juniors Walter Conrad and Meredith Hawkins, who both spoke highly of their new principal.

“Mr. Klein’s passion showed through from the moment we met him,” Conrad said in the press release. “He is obviously excited about his work, and he seems like the type of principal that would do anything to support his students.”

Hawkins agreed.

“Mr. Klein is clearly passionate about his job as an administrator and has a high regard for high school students in general,” she said. “I admire his dedication to both his work and his life philosophy that seems to revolve around helping students reach their maximum potential.”

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Klein is currently getting his master’s degree in educational leadership at St. Joseph’s College. He holds another master’s in teaching from the University of Rochester.

Klein said he knows he has big shoes to fill and it will be a “humbling experience” to take over from Hall.

“In addition to serving as a mentor to many aspiring young administrators, including myself, (Hall) is recognized by many in the profession as one of the finest educational leaders of the past decade,” Klein said. “The work he has done in Yarmouth to create a truly collaborative learning environment is something I will honor from my first day on the job.”

Hall said he believes Klein is the right person to take over his position.

“I think he’s terrific. He’s bright, he’s collaborative,” Hall said. “I think he’s a great fit.”

Hall said he’s glad Klein was found to replace him, but he’ll miss working in Yarmouth.

“I’ve had a terrific ten years,” Hall said. “To end my career in public education here in Yarmouth is really a gift.”

Kate Gardner can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 125 or kgardner@theforecaster.net. Follow her on Twitter: @katevgardner.

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