Desi Nesmith
Executive Director
Executive Director Desi Nesmith joined CREC as assistant executive director in 2024, following his service as assistant superintendent for Bloomfield Public Schools.
Previously, Nesmith served as deputy commissioner at the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), overseeing the turnaround, strategic planning, performance, and academic offices. In this role, he worked closely with the Governor’s Office and the Learn from Home Task Force to help close the digital divide by expanding access to devices and connectivity for Connecticut families. He also supported the development of statewide federal funding priorities and served on the General Assembly’s Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee.
In the summer of 2019, Gov. Ned Lamont appointed Nesmith interim commissioner of education to lead CSDE during the transition to a permanent education commissioner. From 2015 to 2019, he also served as CSDE’s chief turnaround officer, overseeing the state’s Alliance District and charter school programs and providing technical assistance to help underperforming districts build systems that advance equity and excellence for all students.
Before joining CSDE, Nesmith was principal of Metacomet Elementary School in Bloomfield, where the school reduced its third-grade reading achievement gap and exceeded state averages in reading, writing, and math. In 2014, he received the national Milken Educator Award and was the only Connecticut educator honored that year.
Earlier in his career, Nesmith served as principal of Hartford’s SAND Elementary School, which was recognized by ConnCAN as one of the top 10 most improved schools. During that time, he was named the Connecticut Association of Schools’ First-Year Principal of the Year.
A lifelong learner, Nesmith is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, where he earned a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and sixth-year diploma in educational leadership. He also served as president of UConn’s Neag School of Education Alumni Association and, in 2010, received both the Outstanding Young Professional Award from the Neag School of Education Alumni Society and the Neag School of Education’s Promising Young Professional Award.
Nesmith comes from a family of educators, including his father, a Hartford Public Schools teacher for 30 years, and his grandmother, a paraeducator in the same district, who inspired his career in education. He began his career teaching fifth grade at Mayberry Elementary School in East Hartford.
He lives in Windsor with his wife, Aixa, an educator, and their children, who attend Windsor Public Schools.
Phone: 860-524-4063 E-mail: dnesmith@crec.org
