MECHANIC FALLS — Elm Street School has a new principal.

At least for this school year.

RSU 16 has hired Cathy Folan to lead the elementary school through the end of the 2017-18 school year. Folan replaces Ryan Patrie, who had served as principal for three years and left this fall to take a new job as principal of Turner Primary School.

Folan is a veteran elementary school teacher and school administrator. She spent  10 years at Fairview Elementary School in Auburn and retired as principal there four years ago. Since then, she has been serving as interim principal for Maine schools that need temporary leadership.  

“We’re really excited to have her help us kind of stabilize everything, keep the transition smooth while we do a search for a (permanent) principal,” RSU 16 Superintendent Tina Meserve said.

Elm Street School has a higher percentage of students who meet poverty guidelines than other RSU 16 schools in Poland and Minot. It also houses the district’s program for young students with behavioral problems, making it unique in the district. RSU 16 leaders wanted a principal with experience handling those challenges.

“The candidates that have applied for the position don’t quite match the criteria that we’re looking for,” Meserve said.

Folan, however, did have that experience and she could lead the school until a permanent principal could be found.

Folan started this month.

The school system will re-post the principal position in the spring.

ltice@sunjorunal.com