BETHEL — The SAD 44 board appointed Clark Rafford as Telstar Middle School principal Monday night.

Rafford, the principal at Hodgdon High School in Hodgdon in Aroostook County, and a former assistant principal and English teacher at Dirigo High School in Dixfield, brings more than 30 years of education experience to the position.

He succeeds Sandra Schroeder who has served for three years.

Superintendent David Murphy said the selection of Rafford was based on a number of factors, including his experience leading or teaching in small schools and his effective leadership in schools serving grades 6-12.

Rafford received a two-year contract at $76,000 for 2011-12 and $77,500 for 2012-13.

He was chosen from a field of 12 applicants.

His other experience includes teaching or leading schools in Fort Kent, Ashland, Machias and Dyer Brook.

The board also appointed Crescent Park Elementary School teacher Beth Clarke to the position of teaching principal at Andover Elementary School.

Clarke had served as Title I and Reading Recovery teacher at Crescent Park.

She will serve as the K-1 teacher at Andover, as well as principal. The added duties carry a $10,042 stipend.

In another personnel appointment, Heidi Bullen, a former third- and fourth-grade teacher in SAD 58, will become a fifth-grade teacher at Crescent Park Elementary School.

Murphy said teachers will return to the classroom on Aug. 29 and 30. All students, except freshmen, will return to classes on Aug. 31. Telstar Regional High School freshmen will have a day of orientation on Aug. 25.