Interim Special Education Director Comes to Braintree From Milton

Following the retirement this summer of Robert Belmont, Braintree will have a new Director of Special Education this school year on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is found.

Jeffrey W. Rubin, a retired educator from Newton with two decades of special education experience, will serve as the interim director, Superintendent Dr. Peter Kurzberg announced last week.

Belmont's retirement took effect on July 31 and school officials worked quickly to interview five candidates, Kurzberg said. Rubin came highly recommended from the interview panel.

"He is extremely knowledgeable, extremely personable," Kurzberg said.

The process to find a permanent replacement will begin in the fall, with a formal search getting underway after the first of next year. School Committee members voted on Aug. 8 that the search committee should include one of their members.

"In my opinion it's a very, very important position," said Melissa Berman McDonald, who made the motion.

Rubin, now retired, was formerly the Director of Pupil Personnel Services for Milton Public Schools, from 2006 to 2010. Prior to that he directed special education in Worcester, Waltham, Peabody and Londonberry. From 1979 until 1996 he taught special education in Melrose and Natick.

"I have extensive experience planning and working collaboratively with agencies, parents, private special education schools, superintendents, school committees, principals, faculty professionals and the Department of Education," Rubin wrote in his resume.

"I embrace the spirit of innovation and systemic change necessary to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse and complex student population."

Rubin holds a Master of Education from Lesley University, a Bachelor of Science from Seton Hall University and has done advanced graduate studies in school administration at Bridgewater State University.