Shamus Brady, an experienced and versatile educator with a proven track record as a district-level strategist, has been named the new Everett Public Schools (EPS) Director of Special Education. He succeeds Dr. William Donohue, who is returning to school leadership as an Assistant Principal at the Albert N. Parlin School.
“Firstly, congratulations to Dr. Donohue for his stewardship of our Special Education Department over the last seven years,” said Superintendent William D. Hart. “We are grateful that he will continue to make a positive impact on our students in his new role at the Parlin.”
At the same time, Superintendent Hart continued, “We are equally thrilled that Mr. Brady is joining us after more than 20 years as an educator who will bring a commitment to student equity, data-driven decision making, and creating inclusive and empowering learning environments for our students.”
Throughout his career, Mr. Brady has served as a special education teacher, department chair, coordinator, assistant principal, and principal. His work spans elementary, middle, and high schools within both urban and suburban settings. Most recently, he served as Assistant Principal and Special Education Coordinator at the Winthrop Elementary School in Melrose, where he championed inclusive instruction, created a culture of collaboration, and provided professional development across key areas like IEP best practices, gender identity inclusion, and behavior support systems.
"I am thrilled to take on the role of Director of Special Education to help support students across the district,” Mr. Brady said. “It is an honor to be able to serve our students, families and staff."
Mr. Brady received a Bachelor of Arts from Williams College, a Master of Arts in Teaching/Special Education from Tufts University, and a Ed.M. in Education Leadership from Teachers College-Columbia University.
A special education teacher and assistant principal from 2004-2010 in the metro Washington, D.C. area, Mr. Brady has worked in several Massachusetts school districts over the past 15 years, including as the Interim Assistant Principal of the Clark Avenue Middle School in Chelsea and as Malden High School’s Program Manager.
Mr. Brady shares Everett’s unyielding belief in student potential. Whether leading a turnaround plan that brought fifth-grade proficiency to 100 percent in math or helping students with disabilities prepare for college admissions testing, he has consistently designed systems to help students exceed expectations.
In addition, Mr. Brady is an experienced coach, having mentored new administrators in Melrose and supported aspiring principals through Columbia University’s Summer Principals Academy. He has also served on the Winchester School Committee, contributed to town and state educational planning, and worked as a reviewer for charter and special education programs through the U.S. Department of Education.