MONMOUTH — When school starts, there will be a familiar face in the principals’ offices of Monmouth Academy and Monmouth Middle School.

Rick Amero will continue as principal of Monmouth Academy, while taking on responsibility for grades 7 and 8 at Monmouth Middle School. He reversed his decision early this summer to resign to become director of athletics and activities at Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield.

Amero, who attended Monmouth Academy and has been principal there for two years, said when telling other school officials of his resignation in June that the increasingly demanding job was difficult to balance with his family life.

Following the retirement of the middle school principal, the Regional School Unit 2 eliminated the job and split its responsibilities between the principals of Monmouth Academy and Cottrell Elementary School, while also hiring a townwide assistant principal.

Superintendent Virgel Hammonds said he’s glad to have Amero stay on because of his commitment to Monmouth and his long record of leadership at the schools. Amero has worked at either Monmouth Middle School or Monmouth Academy since 1988.

“From the moment I heard that the potential was there that we might lose him, we tried to advocate for him to be there as much as possible,” Hammonds said. “But we also said from the beginning, you have to follow your heart. We would have supported whatever decision he made.”

The support and well-wishes Amero received when news of his resignation circulated helped sway him to stay, Hammonds said.

The school district had already begun interviewing candidates for a successor.

Amero did not respond to calls or an email seeking comment.

Susan McMillan — 621-5645
smcmillan@mainetoday.com