New Ross Elementary School principal grew up in Braintree

Fred Hanson, The Patriot Ledger
·2 min read

BRAINTREE – An educator who grew up in town will be the new principal of Ross Elementary School.

Dawnmarie Durant, the assistant principal for grades K-2 at the Curley School in Jamaica Plain and a Braintree resident, was introduced to the school committee as the new Ross principal at last week's meeting. She will start her new job July 1, taking over from Jennifer Fay, who is leaving after three years.

Durant was selected from a field of 19 candidates and was the search committee's unanimous choice, Assistant School Superintendent Nora Vernazza said.

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Vernazza said the qualities that made Durant stand out from the field were "her experience in Boston, her experience with special education and her knowledge of Braintree."

School Superintendent James Lee said, "All indications are she will be a wonderful addition to Ross."

Durant said her educational career began in 1979 as a kindergarten student at the former Watson School on Quincy Avenue. She began her teaching career in 2001 as a Title I teacher in the Braintree schools.

In 2009, she moved to Rogers Middle School in Hyde Park as a science and special education teacher. She was a principal intern at the Lee School in Boston for three years, then spent two years at Pierce Middle School in Milton as a special education team chair before taking her present job in 2019.

She holds a bachelor's degree in nursing from St. Anselm College in New Hampshire, a master's in elementary education from Cambridge College and a certificate of advanced graduate studies from American International College in Springfield.

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Durant also was treasurer and president of the Morrison Elementary School PTO.

She said the only way she would leave the Boston schools was for an opportunity in her hometown.

"I am so grateful for the opportunity to join the staff and the families in the Braintree Public Schools," Durant said.

She is the daughter of Town Clerk James Casey.

Reach Fred Hanson at fhanson@patriotledger.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Braintree resident is new principal at Ross Elementary School