Hull Public Schools Hires New Director of Student Services, Promotes New Assistant Superintendent

HULL — Superintendent Judith Kuehn is pleased to announce that Kristen Ryan has been chosen as the new Director of Student Services for Hull Public Schools, and Business Manager for Finance and Facilities David DeGennaro has been promoted to Assistant Superintendent.

“We are thrilled to have Kristen join our team as the new Director of Student Services, and to see David grow within our school community and become our new Assistant Superintendent,” Superintendent Keuhn said. “With their incredible experience and expertise, both are valuable assets to our school community.”

Kristen Ryan, Director of Student Services

Ryan will begin this new role on Monday, Aug. 3. In this role, Ryan will work with district staff to complete tasks such as administering and supervising special education programs, coordinating curriculum for the programs, recruiting special education personnel and maintaining program compliance with all state policies, regulations and laws.

Ryan was chosen as the final candidate and approved by the School Board on Monday, July 13.

Prior to this, she served as the Special Education Coordinator K-2 for Easton Public Schools from 2016-20.

Ryan also previously worked as the Team Chairperson/Out of District Liaison from January 2003 to August 2016 and as a Special Needs Teacher until 2006 for Scituate Public Schools. She has additionally served as an in-home behavior consultant for Quincy Public Schools and a speech-language assistant at the Hanover School District.

Ryan holds a master’s degree in education from Fitchburg State University and a bachelor’s degree in language pathology and audiology from the University of Northern Colorado.

She has also received a post-baccalaureate special needs pre-K-9 teaching certification from Bridgewater State University, an Orton-Gillingham certification from Massachusetts General Hospital, a Certification of Graduate Studies-Educational Leadership from the University of Massachusetts Boston and Tier 1 Restorative Circles Training from the Center for Restorative Justice at Suffolk University.

“I am excited to work with teams of educators, families and community members to continue to build upon the existing high-quality supports and extensive resources on behalf of all students in Hull,” Ryan said. “As the Director of Student Services for Hull Public Schools, I see this as my primary role and I am honored to be welcomed as part of the leadership team.”

David DeGennaro, Assistant Superintendent

DeGennaro began this new role on Wednesday, June 24. In this role, DeGennaro will continue to conduct his previous responsibilities as the business manager for the district and will also be taking on the duties of facility management and operations management.

Additionally, in his new role, he will be assisting the Superintendent with personnel matters, contract negotiations, developing policies, implementing School Committee goals and priorities and managing day-to-day operations while the Superintendent is away. 

Prior to this new role within the district, DeGennaro was hired by Hull Public Schools as the Business Manager for Finance and Facilities in March 2016. DeGennaro also previously worked at Cohasset Public Schools as the Business Manager from 2005-16 and as the Interim Superintendent of Schools in 2011. He additionally served as the School Business Manager for Acushnet Public Schools from 2001-05.

DeGennaro holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts, where he majored in economics. He went on to receive his Masters of Business Administration in accounting/finance from the University of Massachusetts as well.

DeGennaro is a licensed Department of Education Professional School Business Administrator and Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent. He is also an active member of the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials.

“I am very excited and look forward to working with Superintendent Kuehn in this new capacity as we move the district forward, while providing the best educational experience possible for our students in Hull. Judy is a great person to work with and I will continually learn from her,” DeGennaro said.

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