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CREC Welcomes New Assistant Executive Director, Desi Nesmith
(Hartford, Conn.) The Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) is excited to announce the hiring of Desi Nesmith as our Assistant Executive Director. Nesmith’s first day with CREC was Tuesday, April 30, filling a position on CREC’s Executive Leadership Team that has been unappointed for several years.
Nesmith comes to CREC from the Bloomfield Public Schools where he held the title of Assistant Superintendent. Before his role in Bloomfield, he was the Deputy Commissioner at the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), overseeing the Strategic Planning, Performance, Academic, and Turnaround offices. Nesmith 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 Nesmith 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. Nesmith’s educational leadership experience extends back to his role as principal of Metacomet Elementary School in Bloomfield, where he significantly improved student achievement, receiving national recognition with the Milken Educator's Award in 2014.“I am honored and excited join the CREC team as an Assistant Executive Director,” said Nesmith. “I look forward to working with colleagues here at CREC as well as the other Regional Educational Service Centers (RESCs) and our member districts.”
The role of Assistant Executive Director at CREC develops and implements the overall vision, mission, and goals of the agency and supervises, provides guidance, and evaluates programs and leadership across the agency. He will also interface directly with key stakeholders across the state involved with regional education, budgets, and operational development like the RESC Alliance, State Department of Education, Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, and the Connecticut General Assembly.
“It gives me great pleasure to welcome Desi Nesmith to the position of Assistant Executive Director,” said Greg Florio, CREC Executive Director. “Desi's extensive background in educational leadership, aligns perfectly with CREC's core values and strategic goals. His proven commitment to enhancing educational opportunities and equity will undoubtedly propel our mission forward."
The CREC community eagerly looks forward to embracing Nesmith in his new position, expecting a period of continuous development and success under his guidance.
