HEBRON – A new principal has been selected for Hebron Station School.

Tiffany M. Karnes, now assistant principal at Lisbon Community School in Union 30, has been named Hebron Station’s principal.

She replaces former principal Nathan Merrill, who requested to resume teaching. He has been assigned to a third-grade class at the Paris Elementary School.

Karnes said Tuesday she is looking forward to working in a smaller setting where she will have more opportunity to interact with the children. She’s been serving in a 760-student elementary school in Lisbon where there are about 100 staff members. The Hebron school has 130 students.

“I’m looking forward to a smaller school where you get to meet all the students and teachers,” said Karnes, who spent about six years as an elementary school teacher in small schools in northern Maine.

“It’s a good blend,” said Superintendent Mark Eastman of Karnes’ experience in small and large classrooms and in administrative roles.

Eastman said the Hebron community is seeing growth and the school has an excellent staff. “It’s a desirable principalship, especially for someone who wants a lot of contact with students,” he said.

Karnes earned her degree in elementary education and her masters degree in educational leadership from the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

Prior to her work as assistant principal in the Lisbon Community School, Karnes was a fourth- and fifth-grade classroom teacher in Corinth, Alton and Millbridge.

“She’s had a lot of experiences in both administrative and curriculum. It’s a nice match,” said Eastman, who noted that the curriculum Karnes has dealt with is very similar to what the Hebron school uses.

As administrator in Lisbon, Karnes handled observations and evaluation of personnel, co-facilitated grade level and staff meetings, assisted in report card development, handled student discipline procedures and was the 504 case manager for the schools. Section 504 is a 1973 civil rights law designed to ensure full participation and access to public schools for students with substantially limiting disabilities.

“My first priority is to get to know staff, the kids and the community and see where they want the school to go,” she said when asked if she planned to bring the school in any new direction.

Eastman, who was given permission by directors to fill any necessary positions during the summer when the board meets on a limited basis, said there were 17 applications for the position. “We had a lot of interest,” he said.

Eastman said the candidate pool was strong. The selection committee, which comprised parents, teachers and administrators, including Eastman, interviewed five candidates, each with experience as a school administrator.

When asked if her future plans include going up the administrative ladder, Karnes chuckled. “That would be too far removed from kids. It’s hard enough to leave the classroom,” she said.

Members of the Principal Selection Committee were Tom Moore, Kate Rideout, Elizabeth Swift, Patricia Curtis, Sharon Johnson and Jeanne Glover. Also serving, along with the superintendent, were Katie Letourneau and Kathy Elkins.