BETHEL – When Telstar middle and high school students return to classes next week, they’ll be greeted by new principals.

One, Telstar High School Principal Dan Hart, has come home. The second, Telstar Middle School Principal Sandra Schroeder, arrived in Western Maine from Australia just a few weeks ago.

Both are thrilled to be in their administrative positions.

“When we decided to move back to the United States, we looked into Maine and Montana,” said Schroeder, an enthusiastic fan of outdoor activities with her husband, James, and 4-year-old son Henry.

Western Maine had everything, including a coast not far away and a small town, caring community.

“There’s lots of good things here,” she said. “Neighbors are welcoming.”

Schroeder, with 21 years in education, was named Vermont Middle Level Principal of the Year in 2005 when she led the Enosburg Falls Graded School District. There, 150 students were enrolled. At Telstar, she will lead 220 students and about 30 professional and support staff.

She and her husband just returned from two years in Sydney and Queensland, Australia, where he worked in software, and she developed curriculum and training programs for the company’s employees.

The Jamestown, N.Y., native has also taught French at other U.S. schools, and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ohio State University.

One of her major goals for Telstar middle school students is to try to help them build positive relationships with the community and with their teachers.

“I want students to make good, healthy decisions for themselves,” she said.

One of the projects she hopes to start involves team building and service learning for students through community service activities.

She replaces former principal Russ Tornrose.

Hart, a Camden native, has lived in Bethel for all of his 26 years in education. His career began as a guidance counselor at Telstar High School under the principal he replaced, Ted Davis.

From there, he served as student services coordinator at the Region 9 School of Applied Technology in Mexico, assistant principal at Tripp Middle School in Turner, and for the past seven years, he was principal of Dirigo High School in Dixfield.

“I feel really good. It’s nice to be working in the community I live in,” he said.

He will lead 280 students and 32 professional and support staff.

He has many goals for the high school. He wants to enhance student education and professional development, improve the school climate and school spirit, and check out community service projects for students.

Hart believes working with the community is important. This summer, he started a cooperative effort between students, high school staff and community members through projects on the high school campus. Flowers have been planted, picnic tables and benches painted, and other beautification projects were completed by students and adults.

Still to come are new signs showing the way to the middle and high school, and campus-interior road signs such as Telstar Way and Rebel Lane.

SAD 44 teachers return to the schools on Tuesday, Aug. 26. Students come back on Wednesday, Aug. 27.