Mike Hammer
HOULTON, Maine — The RSU 29 district once again finds itself in need of a new superintendent after Mike Hammer’s surprise resignation Monday evening.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as superintendent in this district for the past three and a half years,” Hammer’s letter of resignation stated. “I want to thank the board for the support you have shown me and for allowing me to grow as a professional.”
The school board hired Hammer on Feb. 23, 2011 and he began his duties on June 21, 2011. Hammer replaced Steve Fitzpatrick, who resigned in June 2010. Prior to coming to RSU 29, Hammer was principal at Hancock Grammar School since 2003. He has also served as superintendent for the Otis School Department since 2010.
Board Chairman Fred Grant said he was saddened by Hammer’s resignation, but understood the reasons for his decision.
“Mike, you and I started about the same time and it is going to be strange for me,” Grant said. “I know it has been challenging for you to be away from your family. We appreciate the sacrifices you made to help our district.”
Hammer cited the strain of being away from his family as a contributing factor in his decision. He stated he made his decision a couple of months ago. His wife, Julie, is a physical education instructor at Ellsworth High School. They have two children. While Hammer relocated to Houlton, his family remained in the Ellsworth area.
“It has been very difficult to miss the small stuff, each day,” he said. “Julie has been amazing and the girls supported the decision I made to be a superintendent and to continue to get experience. I have tried to get back to as many events as I can, however that has taken a toll on us as well.”
Hammer added he was not leaving RSU 29 to take a similar post at another district.
“I do not currently have a position close to home,” he said. “That is a little nerve wracking, but I have faith that something will turn up.”
Hammer said his goal was to give the school board enough time to start the process of finding the next superintendent before he actually leaves office.
“I wanted to give the district plenty of time to find a new superintendent,” he said. “As far as knowing that four years was enough, both of my daughters will be in high school and I have missed quite a bit of their daily life stuff and I want to be home to support my wife and the girls.”
The district will hold a workshop with the Maine School Management Association on Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. to discuss the hiring process for the next superintendent. After that meeting, a search committee will be formed to come up with the district’s goals and attributes it would like to have in its next leader.
“I would like to start the process sooner, rather than later,” Grant said. “Some districts take more than a year to find an appropriate superintendent. A lot of districts are already wrapping up their searches.”
The district could choose to use the services of an interim superintendent, should a suitable candidate not be found before Hammer’s contract runs out June 30. The district has gone this route in the past as Peter Edgecomb and Ray Freve both served as interim superintendents from the time Fitzpatrick resigned until Hammer took over.
