LEWISTON — One Lewiston principal is being promoted to assistant superintendent and three are transferring to new schools this summer.

The Lewiston School Committee on Monday night approved the nomination of Shawn Chabot to become assistant superintendent and chief academic officer.

Chabot, 46, has been principal of Lewiston High School for two years. He will finish the school year as high school principal and start his new post on July 1.

Chabot, who was recommended for the job by Superintendent Bill Webster, will replace Assistant Superintendent Tom Jarvis, who is retiring.

After the vote, Chabot thanked Webster and the School Committee for their vote of confidence.

“I’ve had the privilege of working at McMahon Elementary School, the Lewiston Middle School (and) the high school for two years,” he said.

He plans to bring his knowledge and experience to his new position and to collaborate “with all the great employees of Lewiston public schools to continue to make this a great place to work and learn.”

Other changes announced by Webster, which did not require a committee vote, were:

Jake Langlais, principal of Lewiston Middle School, will become principal at Lewiston High School.

Langlais has worked at the high school as assistant director of the Lewiston Regional Technical Center. Earlier in his career, he worked with youths with behavioral needs in a Spurwink home, a job he said helped him develop patience and understanding that all behavior has meaning.

He was promoted to middle school principal two years ago after Chabot, who was middle school principal, moved to the high school. Langlais won praise in November for how he handled the tragic death in the school community when eighth-grader Jayden Cho-Sargent was struck by a vehicle while walking to school.

Langlais thanked the committee for its confidence, and said he’s familiar with the high school and staff, as well as the challenges at that level.

“I really look forward to working with everyone,” he said. “Thank you for the opportunity.”

Jana Mates, now Farwell Elementary School principal, will become principal at Lewiston Middle School.

“Jana comes with tremendous middle school experience from outside of the district,” Webster said.

Mates, who was named Farwell principal one year ago, said she wasn’t expecting to make the move so soon, calling Farwell “an amazing school.” But, she said, she’s excited about working with middle school students and staff.

“My heart is really at the middle school level,” she said.

Longley Elementary School Principal Kristie Clark will be principal of the new elementary school expected to open in September 2019, Webster said.

The new school, which is not yet named, will combine students from Longley and Martel elementary schools. As Longley principal, “a lot of what she’s going to be doing over the next two years will have to do with that transition,” Webster said. “Kristie will also be overseeing professional development with teachers at both Martel and Longley,” working with Martel Principal Stephen Whitfield.

Clark said she was honored to accept the transfer and lead the new school that will be built near Lewiston High School.

“I want the community to know the next two years are going to be (a) very exciting time as we prepare to open what hopefully will be one of the best elementary schools in the state.”

School Committee Chairwoman Linda Scott praised Webster for his choices and for promoting from within Lewiston schools.

Webster deserves thanks and gratitude for “his ability to look inside our system and see the tremendous talent that we have, and using that talent in positions that are going to do even more great work for our school system,” Scott said.

Webster said the Farwell principal position has to be filled, and the job will soon be posted internally.

“We have what I think are a number of inside candidates who will be qualified,” he said.

bwashuk@sunjournal.com

Lewiston Middle School Principal Jake Langlais will become Lewiston High School principal this summer.

Farwell Elementary School Principal Jana Mates will become the Lewiston Middle School principal this summer.

Kristie Clark, now Longley Elementary School principal, will become principal of the new elementary school when it opens in 2019.

Lewiston High School Principal Shawn Chabot will become assistant superintendent and chief academic officer for Lewiston public schools this summer.