Meredith Nadeau named Cape Elizabeth Superintendent of Schools

Cape Elizabeth, Maine – June 1, 2011 –The Cape Elizabeth School Board voted unanimously

today to confirm Meredith Nadeau as the District’s next Superintendent of Schools.

“We are excited to introduce Meredith to the community,” said Board Chair Mary Townsend.

“From the beginning of our search process, the Cape Elizabeth community has voiced a desire

for a leader who steers all students toward a life-long curiosity and love of learning—a person

with energy and passion for continuous improvement. We believe that Meredith Nadeau exceeds

these expectations.”

Currently Nadeau is the Director of Instruction, Special Education, Data Assessment, Curriculum

(Humanities) and Professional Development in the Oyster River Cooperative School District in

Durham, New Hampshire, where she has served since 2008. Like Cape Elizabeth, Oyster River

is considered a high performing school district (all schools in the Oyster River District are

ranked in the top 15% in Great Schools and School Digger ratings; the Oyster River High School

received a Silver Medal in the 2010 U.S News High School National Rankings ).

“Cape Elizabeth is clearly a dynamic community with a strong value for education,” said

Nadeau, who will move to Maine with her husband and two young children. “I look forward to

meeting and working with district staff, parents, and community members during the coming

months and years to sustain and build upon the excellence that already exists in the school

system.”

Nadeau brings 18 years of educational experience to the district, including serving as a principal,

an assistant principal and a special education and language arts teacher. She holds a Master’s

Degree in Education from University of New Hampshire, and a Bachelor of Arts from Bowdoin

College. Currently, Nadeau is a doctoral candidate at Boston University.

"Meredith Nadeau has the credentials and experience for the position," said board member

Michael Moore, who co-chaired the search process. "She has generated remarkably consistent

and extremely positive feedback – both from those who've known her for years and those in our

district who've met her as part of the search process."

Today’s announcement ends a six-month search process to find a replacement for Superintendent

Alan Hawkins who retired in December 2010. Dr. Kenneth Murphy, former Superintendent of

the Yarmouth schools, has been serving as the Interim Superintendent since January, and will

remain in the District until Nadeau’s arrival on July 20, 2011.

Cape Elizabeth’s Superintendent Search included two rounds of applications with a total of 33

candidates applying from 18 states. Ten semi-finalist candidates were interviewed by the Board,

and dozens of phone conversations occurred to conduct reference and background checks on

finalist candidates.

“From the outset of this search, it was clear that the School Board and district stakeholders were

looking for that unique individual who could create an exciting vision for the district,” said Jackie Roy, the search consultant hired by the board to assist them in the search, “and it was also

clear that they would accept nothing less than a superintendent who was ready and able to

explore new ideas and elevate the district to higher standards of excellence for all students.”

“Meredith embodies all of the leadership qualities the Board was hoping to find in a candidate—

she is authentic, intelligent, student-centered, hard working, and collaborative,” said Townsend.

“She is a top-notch administrator in her current district, and we look forward to the positive

change her fresh perspective will bring to our community.”