Danvers Hires New School Director Of Student Services

DANVERS, MA — A 20-year education teacher and district leader who is currently the director of special education programming at Andover Public Schools has been named the new Director of Student Services for Danvers Public Schools.

Christina Ryan, who began her career as a special education teacher in Melrose 20 years ago and now lives in Boxford, will take on her new role in Danvers on July 1.

"I look forward to joining the team at Danvers to build partnerships with parents, teachers and community members," said Ryan, who will be prioritizing working with a collaborative administrative team, creating vertical alignment of special education programs, hiring and retaining qualified staff, and building partnerships with parents, teachers and community members.

The Syracuse University alumna previously worked in special education leadership in Arlington and Lynnfie.d

"We are pleased to welcome Ms. Ryan to Danvers Public Schools,” Superintendent Dan Bauer said. "She brings a wealth of experience that will serve her well in this role."

Ryan said she grew up wanting to be a teacher and said "Inclusion has always been really important to me."

She grew up in Melrose and earned advanced graduate degrees at Lesley University and Salem State University.

She has developed specializations in special education regulations and procedures, and has applied those learnings to create influential programs in lesson planning, curriculum implementation, instructional practice and inclusion strategies.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)