The School Committee named Dan Seger the new assistant principal at Cole Middle School in a 7-0 vote at its meeting Tuesday night. Seger served as interim assistant principal in the wake of Vin Verrecchione's departure in August. He's been a social studies teacher at Cole for the last three years.

The search for a new assistant principal – to serve under Principal Alexis Meyer – was "abbreviated" according to Supt. Victor Mercurio. Five people were interviewed out of more than 30 resumes received. Seger was "by far" the best candidate, Mercurio said Tuesday night.

"I'm honored to have the opportunity," Seger said after the vote. "There's no place like it," he said of Cole. "It really is a wonderful school community."

Seger, 32, is a graduate of URI and has a Master's degree in administration and education from Providence College. He and his wife, Tara, (a teacher in Scituate) live in Narragansett with their two young sons, Gavin, 3, and Owen, 2.

The School Committee also approved the hire of Judith Saccardo as the interim director of student services. Saccardo fills some of the job left vacant by former Asst. Supt. Paula Dillon, who took a job with the Barrington public schools earlier this month.

Saccardo retired as director of pupil services in South Kingstown in June. The work she will do for East Greenwich will be very similar to what she was doing for South Kingstown, Mercurio said. It is an interim position.

Saccardo has a BA from Boston University in psychology and elementary education; a Master's degree in education from Bridgewater State; and a doctorate in education from Boston University. She lives in Middletown.