WATERVILLE — Barbara Jordan sees her new job as principal of Albert S. Hall School as a win-win situation for both her and the school’s students and their parents.

After all, she knows them already, having been assistant principal of George J. Mitchell School — the school the children attended before entering the Hall School.

“I’m very excited,” Jordan said. “It’s a nice transition.”

Jordan, 51, of Anson, fills a vacancy created this year when Harriet Trafford resigned as Hall School principal. Trafford, 66, had been principal there since the 2000-01 school year. Before that, Trafford was a kindergarten teacher at Brookside Elementary School, which later became George J. Mitchell School. She was hired as assistant principal at George Mitchell and then, Hall School principal.

Jordan followed a similar path. She was a kindergarten teacher at the Mitchell School and became assistant principal when Trafford left to become principal at the Hall School.

“(Jordan) is a consummate professional, always on duty and has an outstanding rapport with families and students,” school Superintendent Eric Haley said. “Barbara is one who I encouraged early on to apply for principalships.”

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Jordan will be paid $80,551, plus benefits, he said.

She holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Maine, and a bachelor’s in elementary education from University of Maine at Farmington. She graduated from Madison Area High School in 1980.

“I am looking forward to it,” Jordan said of her new position. “I think it’s a great opportunity to just grow and learn more about being a principal. I can’t think of a better place to do it. It’s an incredible school.”
She said Trafford and the staff have done a lot of great work at the Hall School.
“Harriet was a nice role model and a great mentor,” she said.

The Board of Education voted 5–0 on July 1 to approve Jordan for the job. Two members, Elizabeth Bickford, and Sara Sylvester, were not at the meeting.

The Mitchell School has 657 students from kindergarten through grade three. Enrollment at Hall School, which is for fourth- and fifth-graders, is 227, according to Haley.

Haley also praised Trafford and said she will be missed.

She was “just an unbelievably good building administrator” who was great with parents and kids and always up to the challenge, he said.

Amy Calder — 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com


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