LEOMINSTER — Robin Desmond, a seasoned educator from Lowell, has been appointed as the new superintendent for the Leominster Public Schools. The Leominster School Committee finalized her contract on Monday evening.
Desmond brings a wealth of experience from her tenure at Lowell Public Schools, where she began her career in 1999. Over the years, she has held various roles, including teacher, principal, chief academic officer, and assistant superintendent. The decision to hire Desmond was made during the School Committee’s May 14 meeting, where she emerged as the top candidate among three finalists.
Reflecting on her decision to pursue the superintendent role, Desmond shared that she started considering this career move a year ago, undertaking training and education programs to prepare. Upon learning of the opportunity in Leominster, she researched the district and was drawn to its commitment to student achievement, diversity, inclusion, and equity.
“I started reading more about their commitment to all students academically achieving, promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity, SE supports, and overall, their collective vision for a school system,” she said. “I recognized that it was directly aligned with my own vision and expertise and thought it would be great to join a team like that.”
(Courtesy Photo: InsideLowell.com)
Desmond expressed her enthusiasm for collaborating with the district’s team, including administrators, teachers, stakeholders, families, and students. She praised the community’s dedication to collaborative efforts, highlighting her excitement about joining such a supportive environment.
Mayor Dean Mazzarella, who also sits on the School Committee, noted that Desmond’s comprehensive experience in various capacities within the Lowell school district made her stand out. He emphasized that her extensive tenure in an unstable environment – the public school system – was particularly impressive, given the high turnover rate.
“The school district is in good shape,” Mazzarella said. “We are looking forward to getting her going.”
Desmond’s appointment follows the retirement of current Superintendent Paula Deacon. Desmond mentioned that she has met with Deacon, who has been very supportive and available for any questions during the transition.
“I am thrilled to be going somewhere with someone who is collaborative and open to meeting with me,” Desmond said of Deacon.
As she steps into her new role, Desmond plans to engage with parents, students, and staff to understand their goals and how she can support them. Her focus will be on fostering collaboration among all stakeholders to benefit the students of Leominster.
“Collaboration is at the forefront of everything I do, so I am really looking forward to collaborating with all the stakeholders for the greater good of our students,” she emphasized.
