SEEKONK — Superintendent Rich Drolet is pleased to announce that Interim Principal David Graf has officially been appointed as the permanent principal of the Mildred H. Aitken Elementary School.
Graf has worked at the Aitken Elementary School since July 2018 as the assistant principal and has been serving as the interim principal of Aitken Elementary since Jan. 1 after the retirement of former principal John Haidemenos.
Prior to his work in Seekonk, Mr. Graf was an assistant principal in New Bedford and Bellingham. In addition, he spent approximately seven years working as a guidance counselor in Fall River at the Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School and Edmond Talbot Middle School.
Outside of education, Mr. Graf has also worked for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families as a social worker.
Mr. Graf earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Psychology from Rhode Island College in 2004. He furthered his education at Boston University where he earned his Master of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice in 2008. Later, Mr. Graf earned his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership from Northeastern University in 2015.
Twelve applicants applied for the principal position. A search committee inclusive of Aitken Elementary School staff and district administrators interviewed four qualified candidates for the position. Following the initial interviews with the search committee, Mr. Graf was forwarded to Superintendent Drolet as the sole finalist for the position.
“We are pleased to officially appoint Mr. Graf as the Aitken Elementary School’s next principal,” Superintendent Drolet. “Since joining the district, he has led the school community with distinction as the assistant principal and seamlessly assumed the role of interim principal. We look forward to how he will continue to grow and lead the Aitken Elementary School in the future.”
Mr. Graf will begin his formal role as the school’s permanent principal on July 1, 2022. He will lead the search for a new Aitken Elementary School Assistant Principal this spring.
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