BETHEL — John Walker has been elected the new chairman of the School Administrative District 44 board of directors.

Walker of Bethel defeated incumbent Marcel Polak of Woodstock 8-6.

Walker, who graduated from Telstar High School in 2016, is entering his third year on the board. He served last year as chairman of the board’s Facilities Committee.

Board policy requires candidates for chairman have served as chair of a committee or as vice president or vice president pro tempore of the school board.

In remarks before the vote, Walker said: “I’m in touch with our youth, just having graduated three years ago. I want to see this board have a new voice.”

Polak said before the vote he wanted to continue work on recent goals he had helped the board develop, including improving communication with local community groups that have connected students to opportunities to make use of natural resources and career, health and other resources.

In other voting, Director Bonnie Largess of Newry was elected vice chairwoman and Carol Everett of Bethel vice president pro tempore.