South Portland names new assistant superintendent

SOUTH PORTLAND — After failing to find a suitable candidate for the No. 2 job in South Portland schools, directors turned inward Monday, voting unanimously to appoint Mahoney Middle School Principal Kathryn Germani.

The school department has been on the hunt for a new assistant superintendent since April, when Steven Bailey announced he was leaving to take the top administrative post in the Central Lincoln County School System.

“We had about 20 applications and interviewed four people for the position,” Superintendent Suzanne Godin explained to the school board Monday. “We were not happy with the applicants that we had at that point and felt that we wanted to go out and look again. When we did we were thrilled to find that one of our own was interested in the position.”

There were no other applicants in the second round, because it was posted in-house only. Germani will start July 1 at a salary Godin says is both “about $100,000” and “low for the market.”

Germani’s ascension created something of a domino effect. Her old job will be filled by Carrie Stilphin, the assistant principal at Mahoney, who will take over as acting principal for one year.

Stilphin’s job will be opened up for a similar one-year appointment.

Godin said Monday that the interim and one-year positions are to give Germani a chance to test-drive the new job.

“She wasn’t sure she wanted it,” said Godin, “but she was willing to give it a try.

Despite her own trepidations, Germani did get great praise from her compatriot, Megan Welter, principal at Memorial Middle School.

“In my seven years here, she has been a rock, and a tremendous resource for me,” said Welter. “We are very excited. She has our every confidence in her new position.”

The outgoing high school principal, Jeanne Crocker, who is retiring, also boosted Germani, who has been in charge of Mahoney for the past 14 years, having logged more than 30 years total in South Portland schools.

“I have thought for a long time that Kathy Germani should ascend to this position and I think that without the nudge that this took, that might not have ever happened,” said Crocker. “That would have been a loss for this school system.

“We have always been in good hands with Kathy, regardless of the school in which she has provided leadership,” said Crocker. “Now, to have her doing that alongside Sue [Godin], this school district will continue to make progress by leaps and bounds.”

“I have no doubt that you will be proud of the work that she does,” said Crocker. “I know that we, as her administrative colleagues, certainly are.”