A former principal will lead the Deer Isle-area schools

The Deer Isle-area’s public schools will be led by a familiar face again next school year. Tara McKechnie will be the next superintendent of School Union 76, which includes the towns of Deer Isle, Stonington, Brooklin and Sedgwick, officials announced Monday night. McKechnie was previously the principal of Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School for five years before leaving in 2022 for an assistant superintendent role at AOS 93, the Damariscotta area’s public school system.

She was previously a teacher in Blue Hill for 23 years, according to her LinkedIn profile. The school system has been led by a past superintendent, Mark Hurvitt, in an interim role since the resignation of embattled leader Dan Ross in December. McKechnie, now principal of the Vinalhaven School , wasn’t present at the Monday meeting of the local board that represents Deer Isle and Stonington, in which her appointment was announced.



The districtwide board voted to hire her on April 11, according to the local board’s co-chair, Genevieve McDonald. McDonald said she is pleased McKechnie will be returning. Board members didn’t make any further comments on Monday.

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