BRIDGTON – School Administrative District 61 Superintendent Kathleen Beecher will step down on June 30 after three years on the job.

According to Janice Barter, chairwoman of the SAD 61 Board of Directors, Beecher has developed an acute case of arthritis, and believes she can no longer effectively execute her duties as superintendent.

“She just doesn’t feel she can give it her 100 percent,” Barter said. “She’s a perfectionist. And if she can’t do it perfectly, then she doesn’t feel it’s fair to the district to continue.”

Beecher did not respond to an email and phone calls placed this week seeking comment. She was scheduled to comment on her resignation at a Jan. 6 board meeting, which was canceled due to bad weather.

Both Barter and board member Peter Morrison said they had not anticipated Beecher’s resignation.

“I was surprised that she’d be retiring, but it’s like anything, at some point you have to determine what’s best for your own health,” Barter said.

“I know it caught us unexpected,” said Morrison.

Morrison said that there had been “no issues whatsoever,” in regard to Beecher’s job performance.

Beecher has worked in the district since 2002, and has served as assistant superintendent, interim superintendent, and principal of Sebago Elementary School, as well.

“She’s been very strong in elementary education and has been really pushing for a pre-K program, and we had a grant for one year where we had a half-time pre-K program from October through April that was successful,” Barter said.

Barter also emphasized Beecher’s role in overseeing the transition to a “21st century learning” model at Lake Region High School, which was identified in 2010 as one of the state’s top 10 lowest performing schools.

“The high school was a ‘failing school,’ ” Barter said. “But under the course of Dr. Beecher’s tenure the high school has been more progressive in building the curriculum around experiential learning, so that there are teams of teachers that work together in different disciplines and help students make it a more real-life experience.”

Barter also praised Beecher for maintaining staff “morale.”

“She does her best to keep everyone on task, and has been supportive of the board, and teachers and staff throughout all the district, realizing that all staff is important,” she said. “It’s everyone. It’s the bus drivers; it’s the custodians; it’s the secretaries.”

The SAD 61 board is scheduled to discuss Beecher’s resignation at its meeting on Monday, Jan. 13.