CAPE ELIZABETH – A Massachusetts man with ties to Maine has been hired to be principal of Cape Elizabeth Middle School starting July 1.

Dr. Michael Tracy, principal at Newbury Elementary School in his Newbury, Mass., hometown for the past three years, beat out 22 applicants for the job, according to Superintendent Meredith Nadeau. His one-year contract for the 2013-2014 school year includes a starting salary of $109,446.

A 1993 graduate of Colby College in Waterville, Tracy earned a master’s degree in education from Lesley College in Cambridge, Mass., in 2000 and doctorate in educational administration from Boston College in 2005.

Tracy got his administrative start as founder of a recreational day camp in Newbury in 1992. He entered pubic school administration in 2000 as assistant principal of the Ralph B. O’Malley Middle School in Gloucester, Mass. He was principal of that school from 2005 until July 2010, when he took the top job at Newbury Elementary, a pre-K-6 school with 600 students and 85 staff members which he had attended as a child.

“I think he will be a great addition not only to the middle school but to our K-12 administrative team,” said Nadeau at Tracy’s April 9 nomination, which was unanimously approved by the school board. “I think he brings a real enthusiasm for middle-level learning and a strong instructional leadership background.”

Tracy succeeds Steven Connolly, who resigned in November to become superintendent of Regional School Unit 60 in North Berwick. Assistant Principal Doug Perley is serving as interim principal.

Tracy could not be reached for comment Monday.