New School Leaders in Place for 2022-2023 Year
As the start of the first day of school - Wednesday, August 31 - nears, a number of familiar faces will be in new leadership roles in the district.
Desi Nesmith, a nationally recognized education leader and the former deputy commissioner at the Connecticut State Department of Education, has been appointed the new Assistant Superintendent for Accountability and Performance. The position, last held by Dr. Bethany Silver, had been vacant for a few years.
Prior to his role as deputy commissioner, Nesmith served as the CSDE’s Chief Turnaround Officer from 2015 to 2019. He and his staff provided the necessary support to help under-performing districts and schools create systems to achieve equity and excellence. In June 2019, Gov. Ned Lamont appointed Nesmith as Interim Commissioner of Education to lead CSDE during the transition to a permanent education commissioner.
Nesmith earned the prestigious, national Milken Educator’s Award in 2014 for his exemplary work in leading Metacomet Elementary School in Bloomfield. Prior to his four-year tenure in Bloomfield, Nesmith was the principal at SAND school in Hartford, recognized under his tenure as one of the top-10 improved middle schools in Connecticut.
A University of Connecticut graduate, Nesmith was raised in Bloomfield and attended Bloomfield Public Schools for most of his formative years. He comes from a family of educators.
“We are very fortunate to have Mr. Nesmith as part of our leadership team,’’ said Superintendent of Schools, Dr. James Thompson, Jr. “He brings energy, extensive experience and an expertise in developing high-performing schools.”
Other new leaders for the 2022-23 school year are highlighted below. They all have a strong connection to Bloomfield and unwavering commitment to serve Bloomfield children.
- Lisa Lamenzo is the new Director of School Improvement. Over the past six years, Lamenzo served as the CSDE Turnaround Office’s Division Director, supporting low-performing districts and schools in the state. She was a third-grade teacher in Bloomfield for 13 years before being hired by the CSDE.
- Jesse J. White III has been appointed Principal at Bloomfield High School. A Bloomfield resident with children in the school system, he was serving as interim principal after Dan Moleti was appointed Human Resources Director. A 2007 Bloomfield Teacher of the Year, White has worked in the school system for 21 years.
- Allison Borawski has been named the district’s new Athletic Director, replacing the retired Tammy Schondelmayer. As a teacher and Assistant Athletic Director, Borawski worked closely with Schondelmayer over the past 15 years in building one of the state’s most successful scholastic sports programs. BHS earned 68 Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference state titles in 21 years - in eight sports. The program also earned 26 sportsmanship awards over the past two decades.
Dr. Frank Macchi, Director of Literacy at BHS, has been named Interim Principal at Global Experience Magnet School. He replaces Jeffrey Bernabe, who recently transitioned from Bloomfield Public Schools. Macchi earned his doctorate of Educational Leadership from Central Connecticut State University in 2019. He has worked in the school system for 15 years.
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Bobby Gibson and Patricia Washington-Geddes, have served with distinction in the district over the past several years. Gibson has been appointed Vice Principal at Carmen Arace Intermediate and Middle schools. Washington-Geddes has been appointed Vice Principal at Bloomfield High School.
- Allan Miller has been named the district’s Director of Technology. Allan has been employed in the districts technology dept in various roles for over 20 years. Since April he had been serving in an interim capacity after the recent retirement of John Robinson.
“With these new leaders in place, we look forward to a highly productive school year, one with an intense focus on high expectations - and achievements - in academics, athletics and the arts,” Thompson said.