The state’s  top high school principal lives in Boothbay. Dan Welch was named Principal of the Year during a ceremony at Boothbay Region High School Monday morning, April 24. Welch, 37, has served as BRHS principal for eight years. He is also the president of the Maine Principals’ Association’s Board of Directors.

The MPA annually assembles a committee of past recipients to pick an elementary and high school Principal of the Year. The committee reviews nominations and selects two to three schools to visit prior to making a selection.

When Welch learned of his selection, he said he was “humbled” and appreciated efforts of those participating in the nomination process. Welch was nominated by Superintendent of Schools Eileen King. The selection committee puts nominees through a lengthy application process, according to Welch. The committee reviews a nominee’s educational background, organization memberships, and requires five written essays. The committee also interviews people within the community in determining a nominee’s worthiness. The committee interviews a teacher, parent or community member and student.

“I want to thank everyone who was involved in the process. I think what this really affirms is what a great school this is,” Welch said as he accepted the title.

King made the nomination due to Welch’s efforts in creating a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics curriculum tailored to students’ future needs. King described Welch as a strong leader who identified STEM courses as the pathway toward students’ future success.

“This is where the future jobs are,” King said. “He’s a visionary leader and the kind who empowers teachers to reach for the stars. He’s dedicated to the students and community. Dan emulates everything we want in a principal.”

MPA Executive Director Dick Durost presented Welch with the title. Durost described Welch — the youngest MPA president in history — as part of the new guard of school administrators. Durost, a former high school principal, described the current job as being vastly different than the one he did 30 years ago.

“You can’t make everyone happy all the time. You do your best in dealing with students, staff, school board and administration. From our perspective Mr. Welch embodies everything a high school school principal should be. He is the best of the best.”

As principal, Welch is proud of what the school has achieved during  his tenure. During the ceremony, he challenged those who extolled the virtues of private education over public to visit BRHS.

“Take a look what’s going inside here,” he said. “You see students engaged in complex learning activities. Teachers dedicated to the betterment of students’ lives. And the best way I could describe Boothbay Region High School, it’s the only one I’d want my two kids to attend.”

On April 27, Welch will be honored at the MPA spring banquet. Next fall, he will attend a national conference in Washington, D.C. honoring the 49 other Principals of the Year.