SAUGUS — The Saugus Public Schools held a forum Tuesday night for parents, caregivers, staff and community members to meet the three finalists for the principal position at the Belmonte STEAM Academy.
The finalists are Purnima De Morais, Rebecca Long and Maureen Lueke.
DeMorais is currently the principal of the North Street Elementary School in Tewksbury and previously served as principal of the Harmony Grove Elementary School in Framingham, interim principal of the Arthur D. Healey K-8 School in Somerville, and assistant principal at Norwood High School, Maynard High School, and Newton South High School.
Before her leadership positions, DeMorais chaired the science department at Brighton High School and taught biology and physics at Brookline High.
DeMorais has a master’s degree from Harvard University, a dual bachelors’ degree from Boston University, and is a doctoral candidate at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.
Long is currently the principal of Jenkins Elementary School in Scituate and was previously a principal in the Weymouth Public Schools, a fifth-grade teacher in the Hanover Public Schools, and a third-grade teacher in Salisbury, North Carolina.
She has a doctorate of education from Northeastern University, a certificate of advanced graduate studies from American International College, a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix, and a bachelor’s degree from Catawba College.
Lueke is currently an assistant principal at Saugus Middle High School. Prior to that, she was principal of the Oaklandvale School in Saugus, assistant principal and guidance counselor at the Belmonte Middle School, elementary school guidance counselor at the Middleton Public Schools, middle school guidance counselor at the Masconomet Public Schools, and high school guidance counselor at Pinkerton Academy.
Lueke also held guidance roles at Milford Family Guidance Center, Triton Regional Public Schools and the Presentation of Mary Academy.
Lueke has a certificate of advanced graduate studies from Cambridge College, a master’s degree from Salem State College, a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire, and is currently a doctoral candidate at Rivier College.
A district screening committee reviewed resumes and selected five candidates to be interviewed by an interview committee made up of district administrators, Belmonte STEAM Academy staff, parents, and students. They then chose three candidates to continue on to the “Meet the Candidates” forum.
“Special thanks to members of the Interview Committee for their participation and insight during this process,” Superintendent of Schools, Erin McMahon, said. “My goal is to appoint a new principal the week of May 23.”
Allysha Dunnigan can be reached at [email protected].
