Arthur L. Bettencourt, Ed.D.
Director Emeritus
Dr. Bettencourt retired as Director of NESDEC in June of 2023. Dr. Bettencourt received his B.A. from Salem State College, his Master’s degree from Tufts University, and his Doctorate from Boston University. He served as a Superintendent of Schools in Massachusetts for twenty-one years. Prior to working as a Superintendent, he held several administrative positions in public schools. Dr. Bettencourt has been a Lecturer at Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts, and has been active in the training and preparation of educators at the graduate level. He also serves on the Boston University Pre-k-12 Educational Advisory Board. Dr. Bettencourt has offered numerous professional development workshops in school governance, planning and organizational development, leadership entry, career path development, and curriculum design. While serving as a superintendent, Dr. Bettencourt administered several school construction and renovation projects at both the elementary and secondary levels. He is on the Board of Directors of the National School Development Council and recently served as the organization’s president. He is also on the editorial board of the Journal for Leadership and Instruction, a peer-reviewed international research journal for educational professionals.