RAYMOND, N.H. — Dr. David J. DeRuosi Jr. won’t have time to enjoy his retirement from the position of Saugus school superintendent for very long.
DeRuosi, who presided over the reorganization of Saugus’ public schools, announced earlier this year that he was stepping down. But as of July 1, he’ll take on a new role: interim superintendent for the Raymond school district.
He will serve in that capacity while assisting with the work of identifying the person who will fill the role full time, according to Joseph Saulnier, chairman of the town’s school board.
DeRuosi brings to the district approximately 24 years of administrative experience. In addition to the five years he spent at Saugus, he has also worked as the superintendent of Malden Public Schools and as assistant superintendent of Revere Public Schools. He has also served as principal of Revere High School and as an assistant principal for the district.
Additionally, he has worked as a conflict intervention coordinator and a special education teacher.
“I am looking forward to coming to Raymond and joining the great team they have in place,” DeRuosi said. “This is a great opportunity, not only to help Raymond find the best possible person to serve as their new superintendent, but also to help the district continue to move forward while that search takes place, and I can’t wait to get started.”
“We are thrilled to welcome someone with as much experience and knowledge as David to our school system,” said Saulnier. “We are very pleased to have him alongside us during this time of transition for the district, and are confident he will be a capable and strong leader here in Raymond.”
DeRuosi holds a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Massachusetts-Boston, a master’s degree in school administration from Salem State College and a bachelor’s degree in speech and hearing from Northeastern University.
“We are extremely fortunate to have Dave lead the district on an interim basis,” said Superintendent of Schools Tina McCoy, who will be retiring at the end of the school year. “He has a fantastic background that will serve him well in this role, and I know that he will work well with the entire organization to keep building on the district’s successes during this transition.”
He also holds certifications in moderate special needs and elementary education.
DeRuosi was appointed superintendent in Saugus in 2016, and has served alongside two Saugus school boards. He oversaw the town’s ambitious middle-high school project, which was opened for students earlier this year, along with the renovation of the Belmonte Middle School for Grades 3-5. He was the fifth superintendent since 2012.
He was also one of several officials who faced backlash when the previous board voted to privatize the district’s custodial services, effectively terminating the jobs of 21 staff members in June 2019.
Upon DeRuosi’s retirement, School Committee chair Thomas Whittredge gave him full credit for the middle-high school project.
“He was the architect behind that,” Whittredge said. “I definitely wish him the best in the future.”
Erin McMahon was voted in by the Saugus School Committee last month as DeRuosi’s replacement as superintendent.
