Tom Desjardin
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Tom Desjardin served temporarily as acting Commissioner of Education to replace then-acting commissioner Rachelle Tome. Desjardin was never confirmed by the Maine State Senate.[1] He was later replaced as acting commissioner by Bill Beardsley.[2]
Biography
An 11th generation Mainer, Desjardin previously taught history at several universities including Bowdoin College and the University of Maine-Augusta. He worked for 10 years as the historian for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Desjardin served as the senior policy advisor on education to Gov. Paul LePage for two years prior to his appointment as acting education commissioner.[1]
Education
- High school diploma, Edward Little High School
- Bachelor's and master's degrees, Florida State University
- Ph.D. in U.S. history, University of Maine at Orono[1]
Noteworthy events
Acting commissioner injured
On September 13, 2015, Desjardin reportedly fell in his barn and broke a vertebra.[3] A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said the acting commissioner would have to wear a back brace for eight weeks. "His prognosis is very positive, and he desires to be back to work within two weeks," said Anne Gabbianelli. She said Desjardin's acting deputy, Rachelle Tome, would take on additional tasks until the acting commissioner was able to return to work.[4]
Desjardin implicated in partisan conflict
In June 2015, it was reported that Republican Governor LePage had used political pressure to prevent Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves to be hired as president of Good Will-Hinkley, a nonprofit organization that operates Maine's first charter school. Desjardin reportedly discussed the matter with Good Will-Hinkley board Chairman Jack Moore during a lunch meeting in May. According to an investigation conducted by the legislature's Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability, the then-acting education commissioner expressed LePage's opposition to the hiring of Eves. Desjardin also reportedly called Moore after Eves' hiring was announced to say the school had lost the governor's support, and that the school stood to lose state funding.[5]
Political career
Acting Commissioner of Education (2014-2015)
Desjardin was appointed as acting commissioner of the Maine Department of Education on December 23, 2014.[6]
Recent news
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See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Maine Department of Education, "Tom Desjardin named Acting Education Commissioner," January 1, 2015
- ↑ Maine DOE Newsroom, "Commissioner's Update," October 22, 2015
- ↑ Sun Journal, "Education commish Tom Desjardin out with broken back," September 21, 2015
- ↑ Portland Press Herald, "LePage education chief recovering from broken back," September 22, 2015
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Legislative watchdogs cast wide net for LePage investigation," November 10, 2015
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Maine education commissioner won’t return, LePage chooses senior adviser as replacement," December 29, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Rachelle Tome |
Maine Commissioner of Education 2014–3015 |
Succeeded by Bill Beardsley |
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