SULLIVAN — Tom Wissink, principal at Sumner Memorial High School for the past two years, has resigned and is returning to his native Wisconsin.

The resignation was confirmed May 23 by Regional School Unit 24 (RSU 24) Superintendent Suzanne Lukas, who said Wissink’s contract had been renewed for a third year.

“We were very happy with him,” Lukas said.

Wissink said his decision to leave July 1 was based largely on the needs of his family. He has two aging parents and two adult children in Wisconsin, as well as three children under the age of 5.

“It’s been a hard decision,” he said, “but it’s the best decision for my family.”

Wissink has accepted a position as principal of New Richmond High School, a community about three hours north and west of Oshkosh, Wis., which is where he lived prior to moving to Maine.

His resignation came just weeks after Sumner Interim Assistant Principal Brian Carpenter announced he was leaving Sumner to become superintendent of Regional School Unit 20 in Belfast.

Wissink was hired two years ago as a “transformational principal,” succeeding Mike Eastman, who is now principal at the Peninsula School in Prospect Harbor.

Eastman’s departure was required in order for Sumner to qualify for millions of dollars in federal school improvement funding. Sumner had been deemed consistently low achieving under federal No Child Left Behind guidelines.

Wissink said he will miss the students.

“They’re the best kids I’ve even worked with in my career,” he said.

Wissink said some of the improvements that have been realized under his tenure are a steadily increasing graduation rate and a reduction in the number of students failing courses.

“We’re moving in the right direction,” he said.

Lukas said search committees will be established to find candidates for both positions.

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