TOPSHAM

School Administrative District 75 Board of Directors unanimously appointed Randa Rineer to a one year contract as the principal of Williams-Cone Elementary School, effective “as soon as possible.”

The school district conducted the search after the school’s former principal, Steve Ciembroniewicz, left the position at the end of June to serve as principal of Coffin Elementary School in Brunswick. The vacant position drew 19 applicants.

Superintendent Brad Smith told the board Thursday night that Rineer went through a process as did all candidates, that took into consideration what staff and parents hope to see as the school moves forward, “and went through what I would call a very rigorous interview process as they all did, and emerged as the candidate of choice.”

“She comes to us with previous principalship experience in Pennsylvania as well as a program coordinator director for special education programs,” Smith continued, “so a strong background in both of those leadership positions, and so I highly recommend her to the board for the principalship of Williams- Cone.”

“This is such an honor and a privilege to be named principal of Williams-Cone School,” Rineer said Thursday after her appointment. “I’m so excited, first of all, to get to know the children in this community, and to be their education leader. I can’t wait to partner with their parents. I’m a parent myself, and there are many joys with parenting but also coming alongside of each other and helping our children become the people that they’re meant to be.”

She said of the staff, “I’ve heard wonderful, wonderful things about all of you, and I just want to say I know there’s so much to learn from you, learn with you, and so much to experience and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s great to be back in my home state. Thank you so much.”

According to her resume, Rineer comes to SAD 75 from Berks County Intermediate Unit No. 14 in Reading, Penn., where she served as program administrator for their early intervention services since July 2011 and as that program’s assistant program administrator from June 2010 to July 2011. She coordinated early intervention programs and services for 2,200 special needs children ages three to five; led and supervised 170 staff members in the areas of curriculum, instruction and assessment; and provided staff development centered around pre-literacy, communication disorders, autism, behavior, technology and special education law.

She worked as a K-3 instructional support teacher from August 1997 to 2005 at Landisville Primary Center in Landisville, Penn., for the Hempfield School District. From 1991 to 1997 she was the K-5 learning support and special education teacher at Quarryville Elementary School in Quarryville, Penn., for the Solanco School District.

Rineer earned a Master of Education in Administration in 1999 from Temple University in Philadelphia. She also has dual Bachelors of Education, Special Education and Elementary Education (K-6) from Millersville University of Pennsylvania and in 1991 earned a Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate in Special Education and Elementary Education. She is in the process of earning a Special Education Supervisor Certificate form Penn State University.