Marblehead names principal of Bell School

MARBLEHEAD – Thomas Desjardins has been named principal of the Bell Elementary School.Superintendent of Schools Paul Dulac began his search in December. Desjardins, who was named interim principal at the Bell School last summer, was allowed to apply.Dulac offered the former assistant principal of the Marblehead Veterans Middle School a three-year contract and announced his choice Feb. 12. The salary is still being negotiated. Desjardins received $84,308 last year as interim.Marblehead received 32 applications for the principalship. A search committee named by Dulac chose 12 candidates for interviews. The committee presented the superintendent with two finalists, Desjardins and a Wellesley principal, and Dulac decided that Desjardins was a better fit for the job.School Committee members Patricia Blackmer and Eurim Chun congratulated Desjardins on the appointment.The new principal told them he is looking for a new home in town and promised, “People will see me at Crosby’s (Market) and at the beach. Come on over and ask me about your children. And remember my name is Tom.”He added that he was very proud of his staff for their response to a change in leadership this year. Desjardins took the job after Dulac moved former Principal Steven Medeiros to duties as a special assistant in the central administration office.Before coming to Marblehead Desjardins served as assistant principal of the Nathaniel Bowditch School, a kindergarten-Grade 8 school in Salem, and taught at the middle school level from 2003-2007 in Danvers and Andover, and an elementary school teacher in Punta Gorda, Fla., for 12 years, 1991-2003.