Keith Waters became the North Pacific Union associate director for secondary education on Sept. 1. He replaces Dennis Plubell, who accepted the position of North American Division associate director of education.

Waters was born in Belfast, Maine. A lifelong Adventist, he graduated from South Lancaster Academy and from Atlantic Union College with a degree in elementary education. He also earned a master's degree from Eastern Connecticut State University.

His wife Deanna is currently teaching at Upper Columbia Academy Elementary School in Spangle, Wash. They have two sons, Michael, a teacher at El Dorado Adventist School in Placerville, Calif., and David, a recent graduate from Walla Walla University.

Waters began his teaching career with his wife in a two-teacher school in the Southern New England Conference where he taught grades five through eight and she taught the first four grades. After their son Michael was born, he taught all of the grades before becoming a teacher and principal at a junior academy in Rehoboth, Mass. They moved to the Upper Columbia Conference in 1990, where he served as the associate superintendent for about five years before becoming the superintendent in 1996.

"It is my goal to get to know the principals and teachers as we work together to strengthen the secondary school programs in the North Pacific Union," Waters says. "I believe the Lord has led in each move our family has made over the years. I don't yet know what specific plans God has for me in this new position but I am anxious and willing to see where He will lead and what can be accomplished with His blessing in this new endeavor."