Superintendent Hires Two Senior Management Staff

The superintendent has appointed two staff members to join the central administration during the coming school year, according to a press release from Somerville Public Schools.

The new elementary schools curriculum coordinator, Uri Harel, will transfer from Saugus Public Schools, where he developed that district's course of study in math. Harel holds degrees from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, Lesley College and Brown University.

For Somerville's six public elementary schools, Harel will oversee the syllabus, teaching and testing of the four core subjects: English, math, social studies and science.

Meanwhile, the new human resources and diversity administrator, Melissa DeResendes, will leave a job in the HR department in the Town of Braintree, Mass. Prior to working for the town, DeResendes helped recruit and hire job applicants for Dartmouth Public Schools. She holds a bachelor's degree in human resources.

Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi said in a statement that the appointments would revitalize the central administration.

He said that Harel and DeResendes would “help ensure the pace of improvement continues so we can meet our goals of helping every student maximize her or his potential through innovative and inspiring instruction delivered by a team of highly qualified teachers, administrators and other staff.”