Amy Boles, director of Hancock County Technical Center and interim superintendent, was unanimously approved as superintendent at the Dec. 13 Ellsworth School Board meeting.
Amy Boles, director of Hancock County Technical Center and interim superintendent, was unanimously approved as superintendent at the Dec. 13 Ellsworth School Board meeting.
ELLSWORTH — Amy Boles, the director of Hancock County Technical Center (HCTC), was unanimously approved Dec. 13 as the new superintendent by Ellsworth School Board members.
Boles had been serving as interim superintendent since Nov. 14, when Katrina Kane stepped down after a near-six month tenure as superintendent. Boles served as interim assistant superintendent during that period.
Her new position is effective immediately.
“Your commitment to kids and your commitment to bringing the leadership team back together to lead the district is very exciting,” board Chairperson Kelly McKenney said.
“Kids first,” will be the guiding principal of her administration, Boles said after the meeting.
She also said the search for a new HCTC director will begin immediately and hopes to have the position filled in January, although the new hire’s start date will likely be in the spring. Until then, Boles will also continue to lead HCTC, with help from existing staff.
Boles has held the HCTC principal’s position since 2009, after a five-year stint as Ellsworth High School assistant principal. She also taught social studies at Massabesic High School.
Boles holds a bachelor’s degree from Colby College, a master’s degree, a Certificate of Advanced Study from the University of Maine and superintendent certification in Maine. She also serves on the boards of Educate Maine and the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce, positions she said helped her understand the impact the education system has on workforce development.
“We’re looking for partnerships,” she said.
As superintendent, increased communication with staff and families is a priority for her, Boles said.
“I’ve pushed the leaders and department heads to think more community-minded,” she noted. “Ellsworth is very proud of its community, and we want them to be proud of our schools … in good and bad times.”
The board initiated a full search process to fill the superintendent position. The job was advertised in The Ellsworth American and on Serving Schools. Boles went through each step of the process. Unknown to her, she was the sole applicant, McKenney told The American.
“Although we only had one applicant, if we weren’t confident that Amy was the person for the job, we would have extended the application deadline,” McKenney said. “Amy has done a phenomenal job as interim.”
Boles said she had hoped to wait until her children, who attend Ellsworth High School, had graduated before pursuing a full-time superintendent position “but life happens.”
“This is the community my husband was raised in and we’re raising our children in,” she said. “This community means everything to us. To be able to serve … means a lot to me.”
In other board news, McKenney was re-elected chairperson at a special Dec. 5 meeting, with Beth Alteri elected as vice chairperson. Both were the sole nominations.
