On the job

The school district has a new director of student services. Mary Tatem began work last Monday. Most recently director of special education and pupil personnel services for the Long Beach, N.Y., school district, Tatem was appointed by the School Committee on the recommendation of Superintendent Lisa Dana. She replaces Kathleen Curtis, who retired at the end of June. Tatem will oversee Danvers’s special education program as well as the district’s school nurses and guidance counselors. According to Dana, Tatem was chosen from about 20 candidates for the job. She said Tatem stood out because of her “experience with special education leadership, and her passion for students’ education and for providing [students] with the appropriate services to support them.’’ - John Laidler