The Hampstead School Board is pleased to announce that Dr. Joseph Crawford will serve as Hampstead’s next Superintendent! Dr. Crawford currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent in the Derry Cooperative School District and brings several decades of experience in education and leadership. His first day with the District will be July 1, 2026.
A graduate of Pinkerton Academy, Dr. Crawford earned his B.S. in Elementary Education at Boston University, his M.Ed. in Educational Leadership at the University of New Hampshire, and his Ed.D in Educational Leadership at New England College in Henniker.
An Adjunct Instructor at Southern New Hampshire University for the past 14 years, Dr. Crawford is also currently an Adjunct Instructor at the Ed.D program at New England College in Henniker.
Dr. Crawford currently serves on the Board of Directors at Center for Life Management, is a Trustee at Next Charter School, where he is also a co-founder, and is a member of the LAUNCH Leadership Team Supporting Early Childhood Education. Dr. Crawford previously served on the NH Dept. of Education Professional Standards Board.
School Board Chair Andy Kiburis stated “Dr. Crawford brings a very strong resume and a wealth of knowledge and experience across all areas of school leadership. His track record as a ‘district workhorse’, his natural personability and student-centric focus align strongly with the School Board’s long-term vision. I firmly believe that Dr. Crawford will be an asset to the Hampstead School District, our students, staff, and community members well into the future!”
In response to the departure of Superintendent Robert Thompson, Chairman Kiburis emphasized “On behalf of the Hampstead School Board, I extend my sincere gratitude and thanks to Mr. Thompson for his 5 years of unwavering commitment, steady leadership, and positive momentum to our District and look forward to continuing to collaborate with him through the end of the current school year and through the transition.”
Lastly, a special thank you goes out to our Superintendent Advisory Search Committee for identifying and moving forward such a strong candidate.