ROCKPORT — The Five Town CSD Board of Directors unanimously agreed to hire a new principal at their regularly scheduled May 4 meeting.

Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Maria Libby, the board that governs Camden Hills Regional High School appointed Robert (Bob) Sampson, of Waterville Valley, New Hampshire. Camden Hills draws approximately 675 students from Appleton, Camden, Hope, Lincolnville and Rockport.

Sampson will step into the shoes of current principal Nick Ithomitis, upon his retirement at the end of this school year.

Sampson has 20 years of school administrative experience, most recently at Waterville Valley Academy, in N.H., where he created a new year-round high school designed to meet the individual needs of elite snow sports student/athletes, according to a news release from Libby.

Sampson was hired with a one-year contract, with a salary of $109,500.

Before WVA, Sampson was principal of Rivendell Academy, the nation's first interstate school district serving students from both Vermont and New Hampshire. The White Mountains Regional High School, in Whitefield, New Hampshire, serves the north country of New Hampshire.

While in New Hampshire, Sampson was involved with that state’s Department of Education's initiative to pilot competency-based education and assessment.

“His experience will be of great value to the CHRHS as work progresses to integrate Maine's Proficiency-based learning initiative into the school's learning culture,” according to Libby. “Mr. Sampson has also worked with the Quaglia Institute for Student Aspirations, in Portland, and which is an organization dedicated to creating conditions in schools that lead to higher levels of student aspirations, engagement, and success.”

Sampson said he has a life-long passion for learning of all kinds and is constantly looking for innovative ways to inspire and motivate students. He has a particular interest in instructional and assessment strategies that lead to higher levels of learning.