Desi Nesmith
Assistant Executive Director
Desi Nesmith joined CREC as Assistant Executive Director in 2024, having previously held the position of Assistant Superintendent at Bloomfield Public Schools.
Before this role, he was the Deputy Commissioner at the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), overseeing the Strategic Planning, Performance, Academic, and Turnaround offices. Desi collaborated closely with the Learn from Home Task Force during his tenure to bridge the digital divide by providing devices and connectivity to Connecticut families. He also served as the agency's Federal Liaison to the U.S. Department of Education, shaping statewide federal funding priorities, and he served on the General Assembly’s Juvenile Justice Policy Oversight Committee.
In June 2019, Governor Ned Lamont appointed Desi as Interim Commissioner of Education, overseeing CSDE during the transition to a permanent Education Commissioner. Earlier, he served as Chief Turnaround Officer, managing the state's Alliance District and Charter School programs, promoting equity and excellence across Connecticut's schools. Desi's educational leadership extends to his previous role as principal of Metacomet Elementary School in Bloomfield, where he significantly improved student achievement, receiving national recognition with the Milken Educator's Award.
Desi Nesmith is a lifelong learner and an advocate for education at all levels. He holds a B.A., M.A., and Sixth-Year Diploma in Educational Leadership from the University of Connecticut and has been recognized with awards such as the Outstanding Young Professional Award from UConn's Neag School of Education Alumni Society.
Desi currently resides in Windsor with his family.
E-mail: dnesmith@crec.org
