Kittery Superintendent Eric Waddell, a longtime Maine school leader and education advocate who has worked in districts from Aroostook to York County, has been selected to serve as the next Executive Director of the Maine School Management Association.
“Eric immediately stood out in our hiring process as an exemplary educator and strong voice for public education,” said Maine School Boards Association President Faye Anderson, who also serves as chair of the MSMA Policy Committee. “He is highly respected, compassionate, knowledgeable, and has a deep understanding of the needs of Maine students, families, schools and staff members. We believe Eric will provide exceptional leadership to school boards and superintendents across the state.”
Waddell has served in a variety of roles in Maine schools for more than 25 years. He began his leadership career at Presque Isle High School, where he served as the director of athletics, assistant principal and principal. In 2010, Waddell moved to York County to serve as the curriculum director of MSAD 35 in Eliot. Since 2012, he has worked in Kittery, first as principal of Traip Academy, then as the district’s Superintendent of Schools for the past 8 years.
“I am honored to be appointed as the next executive director of the Maine School Management Association,” Waddell said. “I am grateful for the leadership opportunities I have been afforded in Kittery, MSAD 35, and MSAD 1, where I have witnessed firsthand the dedication and commitment of educators, school leaders, school boards, and community members. I look forward to building upon that experience to support and advocate for school districts across Maine.”
Waddell is a past president of the Maine School Superintendents Association. Among his achievements in Kittery include: improving education coordination for military-connected families at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; working together with law enforcement and local EMS agencies to develop a comprehensive safety plan for the district; and pioneering efforts in York County to both expand pre-K and take on responsibility for providing services to young children with disabilities.
Waddell was also praised by colleagues and local school board members for his exceptional communication skills and ability to connect with community members.
The Maine School Management Association is the service organization for both the Maine School Boards Association (MSBA) and the Maine School Superintendents Association (MSSA). As a non-profit federation of local school boards and superintendents, MSMA provides crucial advocacy, leadership, policy and insurance programs to hundreds of districts across the state.