Paul Lucke
SEYMOUR – The board of education voted unanimously on Dec. 16 to name veteran educator Paul Lucke the new principal at Seymour High School.
“I feel a deep sense of gratitude and desire to give back,” Lucke told The Valley Indy in an email.
Lucke, 49, will become principal on Feb. 3. His annual salary is $180,000. He has been the high school’s assistant principal since 2007.
Lucke is replacing James Freund, who is scheduled to retire at the end of January.
“Over the past 20 years, I’ve worked closely with Mr. Freund, and alongside a dedicated staff, most of whom have spent their entire careers here,” Lucke said.
Seymour Public Schools Superintendent Susan Compton said 15 people applied for the job. Five applicants were selected as finalists.
An interview committee composed of school board members, teachers and administrators conducted the first round of interviews, ultimately recommending Lucke for the job.
Compton said Lucke’s accomplishments include being named the 2024 Connecticut High School Assistant Principal of the Year by the Connecticut Association of Schools.
“He is absolutely an exemplary administrator and is the best of the best,” Compton said.
Lucke is an Ansonia native who went to Seymour schools as a child.
He earned his Master’s degree in teaching from Sacred Heart University, and two sixth-year administration certificates from Southern Connecticut State University. He began his teaching career in 1998 at Ansonia High School before landing in Seymour in 2004.
As far as new initiatives, Lucke said he has a three-year plan geared to expand opportunities for students and provide them with a competitive edge. Some of those initiatives include new programs focused on cybersecurity, drone building and a new English course entitled “Digital Voices: Social Media as Communication,” that will focus on understanding social media, digital storytelling and content creation.
When he puts on his principal hat in February, Lucke said some of his immediate priorities will include meeting with all leaders of student clubs and student government, meeting with staff and hiring an assistant principal.
Freund said he couldn’t be happier for Lucke.
“Paul has been ready for this position for over 10 years,” Freund told the Valley Indy via an email. “I have been very fortunate to have worked with him for over 20 years and have been dependent on him throughout my principalship for his friendship, creative ideas and approaches to educating the students of Seymour. Paul will get things done and will bring Seymour High School to new heights.”
Lucke is married to wife Melinda and has two daughters, Autumn and Kali. He credits them, along with his mother, siblings and the SHS staff, for his success.
