Melrose High principal Dillon is finalist for New Hampshire post

Melrose High principal Joseph P. Dillon is one of two finalists for the principal’s job at Souhegan High School in Amherst, N..H.

Dillon and Sue M. Gee, of Rockland, were scheduled to be at Souhegan today for a round of interviews with groups of faculty, administrators, parents, and teachers. Gee currently serves as superintendent of the Quabbin Regional School District in Barre.

Dillon, who lives in Hollis, N.H., was named Melrose High principal in February 2007. He was selected over two other finalists, Robert Coughlin, chairman of the social studies department at Melrose High, and Peter Delani, an assistant principal at Masconomet Regional High School in Boxford.

Before coming to Melrose, Dillon was principal of the Groton-Dunstable Regional High School for 12 years. He also was formerly the head football coach at Burlington High School and also was a teacher and coach in Arlington.

The Souhegan position opened last month when the current high school principal, Scott Prescott, announced his resignation for personal reasons. There were reportedly 26 applicants for the post.

According to an employment notice on the Souhegan website, the principal’s job pays $95,000-$105,000 a year and the candidate chosen is expected to begin July 1.

Dillon’s base salary in Melrose is $112,199.88.