For the first time in 13 years, South Lakes High School students welcomed a new principal to their halls this August. The excitement was palpable as Principal Carlos Seward entered through the school’s front door to the sound of cheerleaders and leadership celebrating his arrival on the first day.
Principal Seward comes to South Lakes with boundless energy and a sincere desire to engage in the Reston community.
“I got “permission” from my wife to be at South Lakes many days during the week, to attend events, club meetings, and athletic events,” Seward said, smiling as he described his role.
“I plan on being a cheerleader, no pun intended, for all these organizations, not just athletics.”
After three years of principalship at Rappahannock County High School in the Piedmont area of Virginia, Mr. Seward moved to Northern Virginia in 2024 to serve as the principal of South Lakes. Although he has not made Reston his home yet, he hopes to do so in the coming year.
Before taking the principal position at Rappahannock, Mr. Seward served as an assistant & associate principal, and prior to his administrative roles, he worked in the classroom as a social studies teacher.
Mr. Seward brings with him experience and a passion for students and their success.
“When I come to work, I have pure joy. I don’t have bad days; some days are better than others, but I refuse to have bad days because I’m the luckiest person to have the best job in Reston,” Seward said.
In the coming months, Principal Seward plans to create a Student Advisory Council that invites students to offer feedback and share ideas with him. He hopes to begin this program in October or November.
“I want our students to think of me as someone who lives and breathes their success because I do. I want them to see me as the guy that makes sure that we’re safe. Most importantly, I want them to see me as their principal. Not the principal or a principal, I want to be their principal,” Seward said.
Before Mr. Seward took the job, Kim Retzer had been the principal at SLHS for 13 years.
“She bleeds blue and green. She was a student here, a teacher, an assistant principal, and a principal. I can’t really replace her. And so I don’t try to. I just try to be the best Carlos,” Seward said.
Principal Seward wants South Lakes to be “the preeminent” high school, not just in Fairfax County, but in the country.” He plans to help South Lakes “achieve with excellence” by “equipping teachers and students with all the resources they need academically, socially, and physically,” Seward said.
As part of his two-year plan, Principal Seward is busy working on ways to improve the school while keeping students involved in the process.
“I am engaging, right now, in a special campus beautification project. More information will come in October when we’re ready to bring those ideas to fruition,” Seward said.
“It’s my goal to be in the hallways during transitions and to visit classrooms on a daily basis,” Seward said. “While students might be hesitant to talk to me, I’m still going to put myself out there because I care deeply about all our students being successful. You being successful means that this community is going to be successful, and I’m ten toes down about that.”
Seward has big plans for South Lakes, and students are excited to see what he will bring to the school and the community. Keep an eye out for him in the hallways, at school-sponsored events, or on the sidelines of sporting events cheering on the Seahawks!
