SAUGUS — Saugus High School assistant principal Dawn Trainor will serve as the new executive director of pupil personnel services for the School Department.
Trainor was chosen to fill the position vacated by former executive director Lisa Howard. Howard left the job to serve as interim superintendent of Winthrop Public Schools. Trainor was appointed by the School Committee, who unanimously supported Superintendent Dr. David DeRuosi’s decision on Friday.
Before her one-year stint as assistant principal, Trainor spent several years working in special education. She began as a paraprofessional, then became a special education teacher. She worked with students in both self-contained and inclusive classrooms, which integrate children with special needs with more typical students.
“Special education has always been my passion,” said Trainor. “I’m thrilled to be back at it in this capacity. I know it will be a lot of work and it will be a challenge, but I’m up for it.”
As the executive director, Trainor will oversee all student support programs, ranging from special education to counseling and health services.
Trainor grew up in Saugus and graduated from Saugus High School in 1985 as class president. She and her husband Tom raised their three children in town and in the public school system.
As someone who has worked in the field at different levels, she said she has a good idea of what she’d like to see someone in her position focus on.
“I want to spend time getting feedback from people first,” she said. “I think we’re doing a lot of good. I hope to continue to move forward and maintain good relationships with parents, teachers, and parents. We need to place close tabs on people and make sure we’re serving them the best way we can be.”
