Saugus special ed director leaving for Marlborough

SAUGUS – Heather Geary, the Executive Director of Pupil Personnel Services and Special Education for Saugus Schools, will be following Superintendent Richard Langlois to Marlborough.The Marlborough School Committee voted 6-1 to approve Geary after a recommendation from Superintendent Dr. Stephen Dlott, according to minutes from an April 2 meeting. The minutes state Dlott will negotiate a contract with Geary.In her application, Geary said her reason for leaving Saugus was that Langlois, who hired her last year, “accepted a position in another district.”?To ensure that I am able to continue my professional growth in my area of expertise, I have decided to look for positions that will support my professional plan,” she stated.Langlois was named the new Marlborough superintendent on Feb. 26 and will start on July 1.In a phone interview Tuesday, Geary said Marlborough is a larger district and offers her “more professional growth long-term,” and noted Langlois? hiring as superintendent in Marlborough also factored into her decision.?It wasn?t something I was planning on, but the opportunity came to me,” she said. “The superintendent and I work well together and we collaborate well together. It was part of my decision process knowing I would be able to work collaboratively with the superintendent in that district.”The Saugus School Committee voted unanimously to appoint Geary to the position last April. She replaced Cynthia Joyce, who retired last July.Geary has worked in special education for Billerica, Chelsea and Brookline Public Schools, and has a masters in education from Simmons College.Geary said she?ll miss the “strong community” in Saugus.?You have a lot of dedicated teachers and staff members that really want to improve the services of education and special education for all students,” said Geary.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].