EASTHAM — Nauset Regional School District Supt. Thomas Conrad announced on Feb. 3 that he will retire at the end of June after 29 years.
“I have been truly blessed to be in public education for over 43 years, 29 of which I spent in the Nauset system,” he told a joint school committee meeting. “I am grateful to be able to work in a community that values education at the highest levels and to work with a board that was always seeking programs and efforts to make the most outstanding school district that we could have.”
Conrad served as Nauset High’s principal before moving into the superintendent’s job in 2015.
“The quality of the education available in this region and your commitment to it has been outstanding,” said regional school committee chair Chris Easley. “It’s an honor to spend time with you and I’m glad you’re going to get some time with the family.”
Conrad said he was looking forward to the “very small things in life,” including “having dinner with my wife on a regular basis.” He noted that their two children had produced three grandchildren in the past 13 months, including a set of twins. “I’m going to work hard to be the best grandparent I can be and learn to slow down and enjoy life and smell the roses,” he said.
Easley later said that a superintendent search committee would be named and an outside firm hired to assist it. Conrad’s annual salary for the current school year is $208,280.
“He has worked harder this year than in any other year,” said Easley, referring to the challenges posed by the pandemic. “The quality of education in the Nauset system was carried on his shoulders. It’s not all because of one person, but it occurred on his watch. And in the age of Covid, he’s not going to get a big retirement dinner.”
