BRUNSWICK

W hen Brunswick High School students come back to school this fall, they will be greeted by a new principal, Shanna Crofton.

Crofton was approved for the job in October 2013, and her tenure became effective July 1.

“I like to have a strong relationship with the community, with parents and with students,” said Crofton in an interview Monday. “My goal is make it a welcoming environment.”

Crofton has degrees from the School for International Training of Brattleboro, Vt., and University of New England in Biddeford.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College in 2001.

“My husband and I wanted to come back to Maine for a while — we wanted to settle here,” said Crofton, in part, because she has family in the area.

Crofton’s mother, Betsy Mitchell, works as a librarian at Brunswick Junior High School.

Crofton said she liked that Brunswick High School has “a good mix of students” with different backgrounds and different interests.

“The school has very, very strong programs that meet the needs of different students,” she said.

Crofton’s goals will include keeping the community involved with the school, and ensuring that the needs of all students are met. Much of her time will be spent, at first, observing teachers and students.

“People in Brunswick seem willing and wanting to be involved, whether it’s sports or a musical, fundraising initiatives, they like to have input in programs,” said Croftron.

She spoke about the need for open communication with students in ensuring a learning environment is both productive and safe.

“A student has to be comfortable in the school and in the classroom,” Crofton said. “The goal is you want a student to want to come to school.”

The BHS position will be her first time working in Maine since college. As an administrator, Crofton has worked at schools in Connecticut, Ontario and Switzerland.

Crofton comes to Brunswick most recently from the Oberoi International School in Mumbai, India, whose population was made up of 75 percent local students, and 25 percent international or nonresident Indian students.

India was appealing, in part, because it was someplace where she had never been. Also appealing was that the international school was new, and Crofton had a role in getting it accredited.

The most rewarding part of the educational experience is when students are successful with their own initiatives, said Crofton, citing an annual Relay for Life event that her Mumbai students started, for example.

“It took an incredible amount of work,” Crofton said. “It was one of the most powerful things I’ve seen.”

She takes the reins from interim Principal Peter Dawson, who in turn took over from acting principal Donna Borowick, who was filling the position vacated by former principal Art Abelmann. Abelmann resigned in May 2013 after less than a year on the job.

Crofton, however, said she was looking at having a longer tenure at BHS.

“I’m looking at the longer term, which is the exciting part,” said Crofton.

jswinconeck@timesrecord.com