PRESS RELEASE
Contact Information
Watervliet Public Schools
Office of the Superintendent
269-463-0300
rseager@watervlietps.org
Date
July 8, 2025
Ric Seager’s Leadership Leaves Lasting Legacy at WPS
Watervliet, MI, July, 2025:
As Ric Seager’s tenure as superintendent comes to a close in late September, the impact of his leadership on Watervliet Public Schools (WPS) is both measurable and transformative. Since joining WPS in 2019, he has led sweeping academic, cultural, and operational changes that have elevated the district to new heights.
One of Mr. Seager’s most notable achievements is the successful implementation of an annual curriculum review cycle, turning an aspirational idea into a cornerstone of academic excellence. This cycle ensures that students learn from up-to-date materials aligned with the district’s evolving standards-based grading system.
Mr. Seager was also instrumental in crafting and executing the district’s strategic plan, revisiting goals regularly, and emphasizing their importance to staff and the Board of Education. His leadership balanced focus with flexibility, allowing the district to respond effectively to emerging challenges without losing sight of long-term objectives.
Under his direction, WPS built a culture in which teachers are empowered as leaders in shaping standards, curriculum, assessments, and instruction. He created systems that offer time, compensation, and professional support, making teacher leadership a key driver of the district’s success.
A champion of high expectations, Mr. Seager fostered a student-centered culture of collective accountability and encouraged staff and students alike to pursue excellence. His forward-thinking approach also extended to compensation—developing competitive pay scales to retain top talent—while increasing the district’s general fund equity from 14% to nearly 20% in five years.
He spearheaded the development and community support of the 2025 bond project, ensuring future-ready facilities and programs. Always ahead of the curve, Mr. Seager led the creation of new district policies, including a pioneering AI (Artificial Intelligence) policy to address emerging technology in education.
In staffing, he implemented systems to recruit high-quality candidates and retain them through fair compensation and professional development. As a result, the district remains fully staffed, even in high-demand areas such as Special Education, STEM, and World Languages. Student services have significantly expanded under his watch, with the addition of a full-time nurse, social worker, and more paraprofessionals. New programs include a countywide cognitively impaired program and an early childhood special education program, enhancing the district’s capacity to serve all learners.
The results speak for themselves:
● WPS achieved its best year on the M-STEP assessment, compared to the state, in the 2023–24 school year, with early indicators suggesting further improvement in the 2024–25 school year.
● Watervliet Middle School and North Elementary were named among the Best Schools in Michigan by U.S. News & World Report.
● Dual enrollment and early college participation have grown from seven (7) to over 90 students, with a pass rate exceeding 98%.
● Enrollment at the Van Buren Tech Center has more than doubled since the 2019–20 academic year.
● The district has also celebrated historic achievements in extracurriculars:
○ The first-ever team state championship in baseball (2024)
○ The first band state championship in 2023–24
○ A new Robotics Team, honored by Michigan FIRST and competing in the World Championships
○ Three regional championships in volleyball and baseball (2), plus 20 district athletic titles since 2019
○ The return of semi-annual stage musicals
○ A return to form in the MITES program with a regional title in 2024
○ Expanded athletic offerings and record-breaking fine arts performances, including standout success in the KIA High School Area Art Show
With a strong fiscal foundation, stable enrollment, and leading participation in Schools of Choice, Watervliet Public Schools stands poised for continued success.
As Mr. Seager departs, he leaves behind a district that is stronger, smarter, and more unified—a lasting legacy built on vision, action, and unwavering commitment to students.
The Watervliet Board of Education extends its sincere appreciation to Mr. Seager for his dedicated service to Watervliet Public Schools. WPS looks forward to building on the strong foundation established under his leadership as we continue striving toward our vision: making Watervliet Public Schools a premier district that challenges and empowers students and staff to achieve beyond their own expectations.