At a special May 8 meeting, the Five Town CSD School Board unanimously voted to hire Shawn Carlson as the next principal of Camden Hills Regional High School, in Rockport.

Carlson was the top choice of three finalists and is a 28-year veteran of public education in Maine, according to Five Town CSD Superintendent Maria Libby. Libby said Carlson’s starting salary would be $108,000 and he would start July 1.

Carlson has been most recently assistant superintendent for the schools of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Southport, Georgetown and Edgecomb. There, he oversaw curriculum, assessment and technology. 

Prior to his position as assistant superintendent, Carlson served as technology director for the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor schools, where the high school was recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for four years.

“We are pleased to welcome a principal with the experience, commitment, and understanding of Maine’s education initiatives,” said Libby, in a news release. “I have every confidence that Shawn will serve our five town communities with strong and steady leadership at Camden Hills. I look forward to working with him as part of our strong administrative team.”

Carlson has also served as an assistant principal and athletic director in the Boothbay region schools. Prior to his roles in administration, Carlson was a science teacher in the high schools of Boothbay, Wiscasset, and Oak Hill.

Carlson appreciates the outdoors and has started outing clubs for high school students in each of the school systems that he has worked within. He served as a founding member of the organization Teens to Trails, a state-wide organization promoting outing clubs in high schools. 

Carlson will replace Bob Sampson, who submitted a letter of resignation in March. Sampson served in the position for one year and will be moving back to New Hampshire for family and health reasons.

Camden Hills Regional High School serves the towns of Camden, Rockport, Hope, Appleton, and Lincolnville and has a student population of approximately 700.