SANFORD — Seminole High School was known in the last couple of decades as a rough school, but with the help of Principal Walt Griffin, the school is now known for academic progress in environment in which encourages students to be well rounded.

Griffin has done such a good job that he has been tapped by the school district to be executive director for secondary education, replacing Raymond Gaines, who is retiring. Griffin will transition into the new position after a new principal is selected for Seminole some time during the first two weeks of February.

“It was a tough decision,” Griffin said. “But I know I can continue to have a positive impact on Seminole High School.”

Griffin, a teacher at heart, said he will miss being with the students. He can often be found in the halls or anywhere students gather. He talks with them about their progress and asking what he can do to help them be more successful preparing for their futures.

He mentors several students and maintains a “principal’s closet” that is stocked with school supplies and other items students might need and which their parents are unable to provide.

Griffin is Seminole High’s biggest cheerleader. He attends athletic events and academic and other extra-curricular competitions as often as he can. Teachers and students know he will be there to support them in their endeavors.

He hopes he can bring that enthusiasm to the 10 county high schools he will oversee from the district office. Of course, he won’t attend as many activities. He will, however, find ways to make each of the schools better.

“My area of expertise is curriculum management,” he said. “I want to make sure that all of the high schools have strong reading programs. And, I want to continue to raise the graduation rate county wide.”

He said he wants to be a spokesman for the principals, especially for those at the north end of the county, which have struggled to keep up with the other schools.

With Griffin’s help, Seminole is currently ranked 144th in the nation by Newsweek magazine (and the number one school in Central Florida), based on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate testing. The IB students at Seminole have a higher pass rate than the national average. The school’s 2006 FCAT scores were above the state average in reading, math, writing and science.

“I think the most important thing is getting kids prepared for the future,” he said.

Though Griffin describes himself as a “people person,” he said he is a “data driven person.”

A former math teacher, he loves analyzing the numbers and making decisions based on the facts. The numbers represent people and he believes that with the hard facts, he can make better decisions for the students, the teachers and the administrators.

Griffin said he looks forward to his new job, though he will miss being at the high school on a daily basis. He said he knows he will enjoy working directly with the superintendent and the district leadership team.

“They are an outstanding group,” he said. “I will be able to learn so much from them.”

Because he will be based in an office at the Educational Support Center, Griffin said he will spend as much time as possible at the high schools, talking to the principals, the teachers and, especially, the students.

“The kids keep you grounded,” he said. “I’ll be around to see them.”