THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, AUGUST 21, 2026 Page 3 Back to School Veteran Lynn Public School teacher Amanda O’Brien embraces a new career challenge as Assistant Principal at Belmonte STEAM Academy By Mark E. Vogler H iring a second assistant principal to help administer Belmonte STEAM Academy was a top priority for school Principal Christopher Blair this summer as he prepared for his second year overseeing the upper elementary school that educates students in grades 2 through 5. “I really wanted to find somebody as capable as Heidi [Jimenez],” he said, referring to his vice principal from last year,” in an interview this week with The Saugus Advocate. “Heidi was grown in the lab to be an assistant principal, and I was looking for another one just like her. Belmonte is a very big school and it’s very difficult to run without two capable assistant principals. If I have two capable assistant principals, THE BRAIN TRUST OF BELMONTE: Principal Christopher Blair (center) regards his two assistant principals as key assets in running Belmonte STEAM Academy. He recently hired Amanda O’Brien (left) as the school’s new assistant principal. Heidi Jimenez (right) worked under Blair as vice principal last year and is currently the school’s associate principal. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) the place runs like a dream. I’m happy to say I have that now,” he said. From a job search that included 15 candidates, Blair said, he decided to hire Amanda O’Brien, a Lynn native who spent the past 11 years as a teacher in that city’s public school system. She was one of about 20 new staff members – and one of two assistant principals – who were hired by Saugus Public Schools for the 2026-27 academic year that begins Sept. 2. O’Brien, a 2010 graduate from St. Mary’s High School in Lynn, spent the past SCHOOL | SEE PAGE 4 Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net
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