Danvers Names New Assistant Schools Superintendent

DANVERS, MA — Kristen Anderson, the assistant superintendent of Nauset Public Schools, will join Danvers Public Schools as its new assistant superintendent in July as she replaces the retiring Mary Wermers.

Anderson is a 35-year educator with extensive experience in curriculum and administration.

"Danvers is poised to have all the ingredients to be great," Anderson said. "There is a committed community, financial support, fantastic students, a great teaching corps and good relationships in the community, all things I was looking for."

Anderson also worked as assistant superintendent in the Concord-Carlisle district for 11 years and was the principal of a preK-8 school in Brookline for four years. She taught for 15 years and moved to administration in 2005.

"We are very pleased to welcome Kristen to Danvers," said Superintendent of Schools Dan Bauer. "She brings a wealth of experience that will help us continue to move our district forward."

While she was at Concord-Carlisle, the high school was named one of the top five STEM high schools in the U.S. When she was math department head at Wayland High School, it ranked No. 1 in the state in MCAS math scores.

"You have success and the community trusts you more and more," said Anderson, who has written math curriculum and has published several articles and books on the subject.

"Kristen has demonstrated a strong track record in improving academic achievement, fostering a sense of belonging and supporting mental-health initiatives," Bauer said. "Her leadership is rooted in strategic thinking, collaboration and innovation."

Anderson earned a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College in Ohio and a master's in education from Harvard. She lives in Newton.

She will start July 1.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)