Longtime education leader Shanna Crofton will be Yarmouth’s next superintendent, announced the Yarmouth School Committee on April 9.
Crofton is currently the assistant superintendent for teaching and learning in Yarmouth and has had a leadership role in the district for five years. She will assume the new role on July 1, succeeding Andrew Dolloff, Yarmouth’s superintendent of 12 years, who is retiring.
“I am thrilled that Shanna will be stepping into this role,” said Dolloff. “I look forward to seeing Yarmouth’s students and staff continue to excel under her guidance.”
Prior to Yarmouth, Crofton was the principal of Brunswick High School and chief academic officer of the district, but her education experience spans the globe. She helped lead schools as a dean in Switzerland, a school director in Canada and head of school in India.
Crofton said her experience working in schools abroad impressed upon her the importance of diverse perspectives and open dialogue, values she plans to foster in Yarmouth.
“In those settings, I saw how powerful it is when students, educators, and families feel genuinely heard and included,” wrote Crofton in an email. “That has shaped my belief that strong schools are built through collaboration and shared understanding.”
A 2001 Bowdoin College graduate, Crofton holds a master’s degree in organizational management from the School for International Training in Vermont and an educational leadership certificate from the University of New England. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in public policy and educational leadership at the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine.
She expects to complete her doctorate at the end of next school year, though there is some flexibility in the research process. Crofton said she has learned a great deal from the advanced study and has already been able to apply it directly to her work in public education.
The Yarmouth School Committee unanimously appointed Crofton as the district’s next leader after a wide search. Working with a consulting group since Dolloff announced his retirement in the fall, the committee received applications for the position from three states and one country outside of the U.S.
“Shanna is an instructional expert and collaborative leader who bases her decisions on what’s best for students,” said Christina Patrick, chair of the Yarmouth School Committee.
Crofton resides in Yarmouth with her husband and two children, who attend Yarmouth schools. As both a district staff member and parent, she has many cherished memories in Yarmouth, including welcoming pre-K students to the Rowe School on their first day and attending Yarmouth’s Got Talent.
She said she is honored to be selected to lead the district.
“I look forward to continuing to build and lead a district that supports and challenges every student to reach their full potential,” wrote Crofton. “I’m excited to do this alongside caring, committed educators and a community that strongly supports education and values a sense of belonging for all students.”