Wiscasset's school committee March 18 accepted Sarah Hubert's resignation as principal of Wiscasset Middle High School. The resignation takes effect June 30, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kim Andersson said.

Hubert wrote Andersson and the committee in her resignation letter March 17, "I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made during my tenure. I believe I am leaving the school in a stronger position than when I arrived, and I want to commend the staff for everything we have accomplished together. I wish Wiscasset Middle High School continued success in the years to come."

Hubert has worked at WMHS multiple times, including as athletic director and assistant principal, teacher and interim principal. She was named principal in May 2024, according to Wiscasset Newspaper files.

Chair Tracey Whitney and members Doug Merrill and Christopher Hart voted to accept Hubert's resignation, with regret. Vice Chair Jonathan Barnes opposed and member Brycson Grover abstained.

Responding to questions later, Barnes told Wiscasset Newspaper, "I was opposed to her feeling she needed to resign at all and because of that I voted not to accept it."

Wiscasset Newspaper has also sought any comment from Grover on his abstention; and sought comment from Hubert. Hubert responded via email Friday, saying she is proud to have served in the job since October 2023. "Returning to Wiscasset—where I previously served as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director from 2013 to 2015—felt less like accepting a position and more like answering a calling.

"Each day, my focus has been on the well-being and success of our students and staff. Their dedication, resilience, and commitment to one another have made this role both honorable and deeply rewarding."

Hubert noted she secured nearly $200,000 in grant funding for teacher professional development, enhanced student learning, and expanded co-curricular opportunities. "I have developed connections with many community partners including MaineHealth, Healthy Lincoln County, Hearty Roots, the Wiscasset Community Center, Feed our Scholars, Set for Success, and so many more who have reached out offering support. We also established a middle school literacy intervention program that has since expanded to include ninth grade students, contributing to measurable growth in student achievement.

"In addition, our staff has been actively engaged in the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) re-accreditation process. This work has included developing a written curriculum, identifying our core values and beliefs about learning, defining our Vision of a Learner, strengthening school infrastructure, and expanding opportunities to increase student engagement and reduce absenteeism. As we prepare for NEASC’s visit next spring, I am confident that this collective effort has positioned Wiscasset Middle High School for continued growth and success.

"As I depart, I want the Wiscasset community to know how deeply I care about this school and the people within it. I have always believed in our students and their potential, and I hope they carry with them a strong sense of pride in representing Wiscasset wherever they go.

"It has been an honor to serve this community, and I will always represent Wiscasset with pride."

In the March 18 school committee meeting, WMHS teacher Shari Templeton thanked Hubert "for the plethora of grants you wrote" winning funds for programs to benefit students, "and thank you, too, for your empathy and kindness with staff and students."

Elsewhere in that statement made during public comment, Templeton said she believes Hubert's skill set "will be better served elsewhere." Most of Templeton's remarks were on Andersson's service, claiming Andersson has now "relieved or chased out" three Wiscasset principals and, lacking mentoring and other leadership skills, "leaves a trail of destruction in her path and ruins lives of those under her tutelage in the process."

A fellow school department employee, Wiscasset Elementary School librarian Liz Bodkin, also in public comment, said if people are going to continue to repeat a one-sided narrative of the past, including about a past administrator Templeton referenced, people should know not everyone had the same experience with the person and, for Bodkin, it was "a terrible experience."

Asked later for any comment on Templeton's statement, Andersson responded, "I value our School Committee’s commitment to upholding the Public Comment portion of the meeting. I have no other specific comments."

Also March 18, Andersson said the state’s evaluation team for a regional “nine through 16” school has told her and Alternative Organizational Structure 98 Superintendent of Schools Robert Kahler, a critical piece some other applicants have that the two districts do not, is a career and technical education (CTE) school as a partner.

The school committee took no votes, but discussed dropping the nine through 16 grant pursuit. Members held off deciding whether to have Andersson talk further with the AOS about any other regionalization ideas.

Andersson said Maine Municipal Bond Bank expects to decide by April 22 on the request for a bond for security upgrades to Wiscasset schools. Maine Department of Education recently nodded partnerships for Wiscasset to get a zero-interest loan of $474,955 for a project at WES and a $318,356 one, also zero interest, for work at WMHS, and only pay back 65.06% of each loan. A warrant article has been drafted for town meeting in June.

The committee accepted with regret the resignations of Cristina Stade, WMHS administrative assistant; Jennifer Hembree, WES resource room teacher; and Amy Lilly, WES custodian; and nodded hiring Noah Pierpont, first grade teacher;  and Elizabeth Bluteau, WMHS administrative assistant.