The Board of Education unanimously approved the appointment of Timothy Seymour to the job on Tuesday. The current superintendent, Roger Catania, will retire at the end of the school year.

Seymour, 37, has been the superintendent of the St. Regis Falls Central School District since 2019. Before that, he was the principal and program director of Northern Borders Academy and P-TECH, and for nine years he taught social studies.

“I’d just like to thank the board and the community and of course Dr. Catania as well for the opportunity to join this prestigious school district,” Seymour told the school board on Tuesday. “I’m very excited to follow in the good path that Dr. Catania has set forth in his career as superintendent. We’ve already set aside some time tomorrow to discuss what the transition plan is going to look like. I expect that to be a very orderly process.

“For me, this is just a tremendous honor and I’m extremely grateful to the board for having faith in the vision I shared with you during the interview process. I look forward to working with the administrative team. With support like this, I foresee a very fruitful, enjoyable career for myself and very strong results for the students,” he said.

Timothy Seymour poses outside Lake Placid Middle-High School on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Elizabeth Izzo)

Seymour plans to move from Malone to Lake Placid with his wife, who is a teacher, and their children. He wrote in an email last month that he’s excited to work with “the talented and compassionate educators at Lake Placid Central School District to channel the excitement that will come from the end of the COVID-19 pandemic,” and to “work with the shareholders in the district to create unique partnerships with area businesses and organizations to enhance the overall student experience.”

“I believe that we are on the cusp of a renaissance of participation, active learning, collaboration, and experimentation in the field of education,” he said. “I look forward to hearing directly from students and families about their hopes and dreams for this new and hopeful future. I envision the Lake Placid Central School District acting as a leader in our state and region, particularly when it comes to addressing the effects of the pandemic on our students’ social, emotional, and intellectual development.”

Seymour said the best part about working in education is seeing students grow and follow their passions.

“As a classroom teacher, I loved those moments when students learned something deep about themselves in the process of completing their coursework,” he said. “Educators are uniquely placed to guide students on their path, as they work to help students thrive in a dynamic global society. This sentiment strikes at the center of my educational philosophy and the mission of the Lake Placid Central School District.”

The school board voted 5-0 to appoint Seymour. Board member Bryan Liam Kennelly, who is a lawyer, abstained from the vote because he notarized the appointment documents.

Timothy Seymour speaks with the Lake Placid Board of Education on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Elizabeth Izzo)

Timothy Seymour smiles in the Lake Placid Middle-High School cafeteria on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Elizabeth Izzo)