New assistant principal, special ed director hired
GEORGETOWN — "I plan to hit the ground running," Jennifer Turner told the School Committee last week.
She will take over the middle/high school assistant principal position being vacated by Geoff Bruno, who has left to take a job as a principal in Saugus.
Turner comes from a background as a special education teacher in North Reading and Hamilton-Wenham, and most recently was the interim assistant principal at the middle school level in Hamilton-Wenham.
"I will meet with staff and parents to hear their concerns so I know which direction to go."
Turner said she will bring her experiences from her former school districts to the job, but realizes that Georgetown is unique. "I will bring positive highlights from North Reading and Hamilton-Wenham, but will in no way try to change Georgetown into either of these places," she said.
Also joining the school staff will be Dave Dempsey, replacing special education director Linda Gross, who is retiring. Dempsey, with a 25-year career as a special educator, most recently worked in the Triton school district as a half-time special education director and half-time athletic director. He said he left his current position because both parts were being eliminated, and he wanted to find work in special education full time.
"I feel wonderful things can be done here. I am looking forward to setting up more collaboration between regular and special education," Dempsey said.
He went on to say that he likes to think out of the box to keep students in the district. "I'd like to see more inclusion. My philosophy is that all children can learn," he said.
His sports background helps because he likes to see special needs students integrated into sports programs. "I believe in bringing all members of the school community together," Dempsey said.
Dempsey's position required approval of the School Committee, which he received with a unanimous vote.
