SABATTUS — As soon as school let out in Auburn in June, Kathy Martin headed here, eight miles away, for the last week of classes and let students fire away.

What was her favorite book? they asked. Her favorite movie? What’d she like to do with her family in the summer?

All the important things, from a kindergartner’s perspective, that one needs to know about their new principal.

Martin, 34, a longtime Auburn teacher, officially became the head of Sabattus Primary School and Libby-Tozier School in Litchfield in July.

Both schools have about 200 students in grades pre-K to 2.

She had to take her name out of the running for Maine’s Teacher of the Year Award in accepting the new position, an easy tradeoff for what she calls her dream job.

“This was exactly what I wanted to do,” Martin said. “We are their first impression of school — we can truly make learning fun and relevant. I feel like they have more “a-ha!” moments when they learn something at this age than any other age group.”

Martin grew up in New Auburn and graduated from Saint Dominic Academy in 1998. She was hired by the Auburn School Department, right out of college, and has spent most of the past 12 years teaching second grade at Fairview Elementary School.

She lives in Lewiston with her husband, Matt; son, Logan, 7; and daughter, Ava, 5.

Auburn and RSU 4 have a lot in common, Martin said, sharing professional development days as well as a very similar learning philosophy. 

“(Both) are moving in similar directions toward proficiency-based learning,” she said.

Parents can expect to hear about changes like flexible grouping or teaching students a new skill when those students are ready, regardless of their class level or age.

“Down to the core, I’m truly a teacher,” Martin said. “I will do what’s best for students; I want to help our teachers get there as well. It’s going to be challenging, especially for parents. It’s not how they learned; it’s going to be a new approach.”

In September, she plans to hold two fireside chats, one for each school, for parents to ask questions and talk about goals. Martin also plans to be in the classrooms and hallways plenty — seeing and being seen.

In response to the children’s question, she said her favorite book is “Gooney Bird Greene,” a series about a lively, tale-spinning second grader.

Her favorite movie: “The Lion King.”

And her favorite way to spend the summer? Camping most weekends, from May to October, in the family’s fifth-wheel.

“We camp in different places every weekend,” Martin said. “New adventures every weekend.”

Know someone everyone knows? Contact staff writer Kathryn Skelton at 689-2844 or kskelton@sunjournal.com