Robert Thompson was chosen as the new superintendent of the Merrimack School District. Courtesy photo

MERRIMACK – The School Board recently announced that Robert Thompson was chosen as the new superintendent of schools.

“I am deeply honored to serve as the next instructional leader of the Merrimack School District and to have the opportunity to serve its exceptional staff, students and community,” said Thompson. “Merrimack has a strong tradition of educational excellence and I look forward to working together to build upon that foundation and support the success of every student.”

Thompson was chosen over Christopher Motika, former assistant superintendent of the Milford School District.

He will take the helm on July 1, 2026, succeeding Chief Education Officer William Olsen, who has led the district for the past five years.

Thompson got his start as a paraeducator and later as a social studies teacher at Dover Middle School. He was then principal of Hollis Brookline Middle School for seven years and dean of students at Souhegan High School in Amherst.

From there, Thompson advanced to the district level as the assistant superintendent of student services of the Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District. He has held his current position as superintendent of the Hampstead School District since 2021.

Outside of the classroom, he served on the Somersworth School Board and on the Budget Advisory Committee of the Milford School District. He is presently the regional chairman of the New Hampshire School Administrators Association South Central Superintendent Group.

“We are excited to have Bob come on board with his breadth of experience,” said Merrimack School Board Chairwoman Lori Peters. “We are confident that he will continue to move the district forward in supporting students to become curious, connected, prepared, resilient, dedicated individuals who are lifelong, expert learners.”

Thompson holds a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree and an Education Specialist degree from the University of New Hampshire.