Candidate Profile: Thomas 'Tom' Croteau

General information

Name : Thomas “Tom” Croteau 

Age : 59

Background/education

Born and raised in Concord. Attended Concord schools. Graduated from Concord High School in 1971 and in 1975 from New England College with a Bachelor’s in Education. Received a Masters of Education from Antioch University in 1986. Enrolled in the School Administration program at Notre Dame College in Manchester. Received a certificate in School Administration in 1995.

Experience/occupation

Began teaching in 1975. After one year teaching first grade in Allenstown, began teaching fourth grade at Broken Ground School here in Concord. Continued there for nineteen years teaching grades four through six.

Became assistant principal at Winnisquam Regional Middle School in Tilton in 1995. Two years later became the principal there. While at Winnisquam led teams of teachers to adopt and implement a Positive Behavior Intervention System, brought an assessment program to quickly and accurately evaluate student progress and worked with the N.H. Department of Education adopting their Best Schools program.

Retired from Winnisquam in 2008, began working part-time for Merrimack County Sheriff’s Department as a Deputy Sheriff/Court Security.

Prior elected office

I served as secretary of the Concord Education Association. I served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Concord Youth Hockey Association. Currently, I'm vice chairman of the New Hampshire Partners in Education board of directors. 

Personal

I have been married to Patricia Higgins Croteau for 38 years.  I have three grown children - Sarah, Abby and Jon. All three were educated in Concord Public Schools. I also have four grandchildren. I've coached ice hockey in Concord at all levels including high school and have coached soccer at Concord High School as well.

Priorities

• Students: All students, including those experiencing a challenge, those who may be gifted and our typical students have the right to an equal, challenging and enriching educational experience.
• Educators: I want to continue to find and keep excellent teachers and administrators through competitive pay scales and by offering continued educational growth using proven educational practices.
• Community: That the community and taxpayers have a moral duty to support education and at the same time boards of education and administrators have a duty to research carefully the most cost effective ways of spending those dollars that will give students and staff the greatest educational impact. I am convinced these goals can be achieved through excellent communication to and continued support from the community.

Why are you running?

My educational experience and my desire to be part of continuing Concord School’s excellent reputation will make me a productive and contributing member of the Concord School Board. I feel that becoming a member of the Concord School Board would provide an opportunity for me to have a roll in seeing that all of our schools continue to be excellent schools. I want to see that the partnership between the community and the schools continues to grow so that we ensure that all students reach their academic and social potential.