AUBURN — The School Committee on Wednesday night approved two new principals for Auburn Middle and Sherwood Heights Elementary schools.

Celena Ranger, 42, of Turner will replace Jim Hand at Auburn Middle School. He left in June.

Kim Taylor, 39, of Auburn will replace Laura Shaw at Sherwood Heights school. Shaw is going to Washburn Elementary School.

Ranger is principal at Dirigo Middle School in Dixfield. She’s trained in proficiency-based education and customized learning. At the school she created I Make A Difference awards to encourage students to get involved in their community.

Before that, Ranger was an assistant principal and teacher at Hodgkins Middle School in Augusta.

Ranger said she is excited to work in Auburn. “I used to live in Auburn. My daughter is a senior at Edward Little High School. I wanted to be here. It feels like I’m coming home,” she said

Taylor is a literacy coach at Sherwood, providing support to classroom teachers for professional development and analyzing student progress. She has been a classroom teacher at the school for grades four through six.

“I’ve been part of the Sherwood Heights community since 2000, I’ve been a teacher there and a literacy coach,” Taylor said.

“I had been going to school for education,” she said. “I have a passion for teaching and learning. What better avenue than to be the leader in a school and be able to share it with the entire school community?”

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