PEABODY – The School Committee regretfully accepted the resignation of Special Education Administrator Jean Shea Tuesday night.Shea announced her resignation in a formal letter to the superintendent on March 5. Her last day of employment will be June 30, the final day of her current contract.”I take pride in having been chosen to serve the district in (this) capacity,” wrote Shea in her letter. “I have been fortunate to have the support of the School Committee and would like to extend my sincere appreciation to them.”The Committee acknowledged the many great things Shea has done for the Special Education program, including increasing the overall number of programs, as well as improving the existing ones.Committee member Dave McGeney said Shea’s lengthy stay with Peabody has stabilized the program.”She has done a superb job,” he said. “We’ll miss her very much and her capabilities.”Committee member Beverly Ann Griffin Dunne agreed.”She’s been very, very nice to work with,” she said. “And very, very professional.”Mayor Michael Bonfanti shared the sentiments of both Dunne and McGeney.”Not only has she been competent, but she cares and that makes a big difference no matter what you do,” he told the Committee.As Shea’s last day is soon approaching, the search for a replacement to fill what many have referred to as, “her very large shoes” will begin shortly. But first, Dunne would like the Committee to consider changing the program somewhat to address gifted students, as well. Dunne said she has been pondering the idea for quite some time now.”(SPED) has always been seen as something to bring someone ‘up’,” she said, adding that many children are already ‘up,’ and in fact, rather advanced.Peabody currently does not have a program in place for specially gifted students, and that’s what Dunne would like to see change.”I’d like to see us help those students, too,” she said, noting that many gifted students opt to attend private schools in order to meet their high standards of learning.Dunne said that with a new administrator could come a new program that would address students at both ends of the spectrum.Superintendent Milton Burnett asked the Committee to post the position and begin the hiring process sooner, rather than later, so that Shea would be around to train the new hire. However, Bonfanti recommended taking the time to look into a possible program change first, as the new responsibility would need to be added into the job description.The Committee is expected to look into the proposal further and take a vote at the next meeting.