Dr. MacLean, Superintendent of Schools for the Merrimack Valley and Andover School Districts (SAU 46), will assume the role on July 1 pending successful contract negotiations. He will succeed Dr. Carl Ladd, who will retire on June 30.

The Executive Director reports directly to the NHSAA President and is responsible for professional leadership and day-to-day management of the Association. The Director is charged with the further development of NHSAA and will provide leadership for strategy, organizational development, implementation, financial oversight, and revenue generation.

Following Dr. Ladd’s intention to retire, the Executive Board committed to a comprehensive process to identify and vet all viable candidates. The Executive Board opened a nationwide search last fall.

Applicants were reviewed by a Search/Interview Committee comprised of the four Executive Board officers and a representative of each of NHSAA's five regions. The Committee solicited feedback from educators across the state about the qualities and vision they would like to see in the next Executive Director, which informed questions to be asked during interviews.

The Committee invited three candidates, all current New Hampshire superintendents, for interviews. Following deliberations, the Committee unanimously forwarded Dr. MacLean to the full Executive Board. 

The Executive Board accepted the Committee's recommendation in a unanimous vote on Friday, Feb. 3.
“Screening Committee members placed great value in a strong track record of innovation and a passionate advocacy for students and their families, and someone who has been active in educational issues on the local, state, and national levels,” President Holden said.

“We were extremely fortunate to have three strong final candidates. Dr. MacLean’s thoughtfulness, solutions-based approach, and positive outlook make him the right person to lead our organization into the future,” President Holden said.

Dr. MacLean has served as superintendent of SAU 46, serving the towns of Andover, Boscawen, Loudon, Penacook, Salisbury, and Webster, since 2014. He was honored as NHSAA’s New Hampshire Superintendent of the Year in 2020. 

Dr. MacLean began his career in education as a Business and Computer Education teacher at Newport Middle High School in Newport in 1994. He also worked as a Dean of Academics at Alvirne High School in Hudson, and Assistant Superintendent in the Kearsarge Regional School District in New London before arriving at SAU 46.

He has served on the governing board of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) from 2016 to 2022, and has chaired the NHSAA's Executive Board Legislative Committee since 2018.

Dr. MacLean has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration  from the University of New Hampshire; a Master of Science in Business Education from New Hampshire College (now Southern New Hampshire University); and both a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies and a doctorate in Learning, Leadership and Community from Plymouth State University.

“It is humbling to be selected to lead NHSAA. I thank the NHSAA and the Executive Board for their vote and their confidence in me,” Dr. MacLean said. “I promise to thoughtfully and diligently represent the Association, systems leaders across the state, and the 167,000 students on whose behalf we work.”

President Holden and the NHSAA wish to recognize and thank members of the Search/Interview Committee for their diligence and commitment: President-Elect Dr. Esther Asbell, SAU 16; Vice President Dr. Ronna HasBrouck, SAU 58; Dr. James Morse, Past President, SAU 5; North County representative Kevin Richard, SAU 9; South East representative Suzanne Fillipone, SAU 5; South West representative Amanda Isabelle, SAU 62; South Central representative Michael Fournier, SAU 25; and Lakes Region representative Kathleen Murphy, SAU 8.

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Welcome to NHSAA, Mark!