Winnisquam principal Seward to be next superintendent

By THOMAS P. CALDWELL, LACONIA DAILY SUN

TILTON — Robert Seaward Jr. will succeed Dr. Tammy Davis as superintendent, the School Administrative Unit 59 Board has announced.

Davis, who has been with the central office overseeing the Winnisquam Regional School District for 12 years, announced on Oct. 16 that she intended to retire and would not be seeking a renewal of her contract when it expires on June 30.

The SAU Board conducted a short internal search, interviewing the single candidate in mid-November and holding a public forum on Nov. 28.

SAU 59 Board Chairman Sean Goodwin said, in making the announcement, “We appreciate the engagement of the community members and staff during this process, as well as the demonstrated interest in their public education system. We were pleased to find such a qualified and motivated candidate from within our district. He has shown great leadership at the middle school and we look forward to Mr. Seaward leading the entire Winnisquam Regional School District into the future.”

Seward, who has served as principal of Winnisquam Regional Middle School for the past five years, is credited with implementing several initiatives, including a competency-based education system, a Junior National Honor Society, and development of relationships with local businesses and community organizations.

He came to Winnisquam from Spaulding High School in the Rochester School District, where he served as principal from 2010 to 2013. He had been deputy principal from January 2009 to June 2010, and assistant principal prior to that, beginning in 2007.

He began his career as a social studies teacher at Rochester Middle School and moved to Spaulding High School in early 2003. “I spent six years developing my craft as a teacher, colleague, and instructional leader, consistently addressing areas of improvement and accepting greater responsibility and challenges from colleagues and administration,” he wrote on his resume.

Seaward earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of New Hampshire and gained K-12 School Principal Certification from Plymouth State University.

“I am thrilled and humbled to have been selected as superintendent," Seaward said. "I am looking forward to this new challenge. I am excited to be able to bring everyone together within the district to learn from their experience and perspective in leading our district forward. I also want to continue to engage our community of parents and taxpayers and expand our outreach to the business community to grow the opportunities and educational experience for all of our students.”