NEW SHARON — Cape Cod Hill School [CCHS] will have a new principal starting Saturday, July 1. Carol Kiesman, who currently serves as the director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment at Vassalboro Community School, was offered the position by Superintendent Christian Elkington and the Regional School Unit 9 board of directors in an executive session on Tuesday, May 9.

Kiesman will replace interim principal Jennifer Ladd. Kiesman has been an educator for 25 years, by her own estimation. She began working in administration roughly seven years ago and has been in her current position for two years.

“I like helping other teachers,” Kiesman stated. “I’ve had a lot of student teachers. I’ve always been a mentor teacher, so I thought in an administrative role, I could expand that even more and be able to help a lot more teachers be really good classroom teachers.”

“Nothing makes me happier than to see good teachers,” she added. “That really makes me happy to see the advantages that that gives to kids.”

Her focus has primarily been on elementary education and has worked with every age group in the pre-K through fifth grade range. Kiesman stated she is looking forward to working with the kids in a more direct role with the new position.

“In my current role, I’m very removed from the actual classroom and actually being with kids. That is what I’m most looking forward to is having the opportunity to really interact with kids again and having the opportunity to watch the staff as they to interact with the kids.

Kiesman cited Regan Nickels [Former RSU 22 superintendent], Christine Boone [assistant superintendent for district development at RSU 22] and Mary Giard [former curriculum director for RSU 22] as role models for her in taking on this new position.

“They’ve guided me, they’ve mentored me, and they really are role models to me,” Kiesman said.

Kiesman shared some parting words for Vassalboro Community School, stating “I’ve enjoyed my time very much here. I have loved the opportunities that I’ve been afforded in growing my profession and I wish everyone well.”