In his current job as assistant director of Lexington Youth Services, Tony Serrio wears many hats: he leads the day-to-day operations of the department, does clinical social work, leads a crisis intervention team, runs monthly suicide prevention training sessions and programs after school activities.
That will change next month, when Serrio starts work as director of Andover Youth Services on Aug. 8.
“This is what I would call a dream job,” Serrio said at the July 20 meeting where the select board approved his appointment. “It’s really bringing everything I love about working with youth and family services altogether.”
Serrio, who will be paid $97,000 per year, was selected from a field of 38 applicants. The screening process included first-round interviews which cut the field to nine and all day sessions where candidates participated in a series of exercises ranging from responding to a parent inquiry to preparing a budget.
“”We’re really excited the process led us to Tony,” Town Manager Andrew Flanagan said. “We’re fortunate to find a candidate as experienced and as well-balanced as Tony.”
Serrio, 34, is from Belmont and received his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He also holds a master’s in social work from Simmons University.
Serio replaces Bill Fahey, who was fired last May for “misconduct.” Fahey is suing the town and Flanagan for wrongful termination.