AUGUSTA — Maine Acting Commissioner of Education Tom Desjardin is recovering from a fall which broke his back, his office said Monday.

Desjardin “did take a fall in his barn on Sept. 13, breaking a vertebrae in his back,” said Anne Gabbianelli, the department’s Director of Communications. Desjardin is recovering at home and doing well with the support of a back brace.

It’s expected he’ll be in the back brace for about eight weeks. “His prognosis is very positive, and he desires to be back to work within two weeks,” Gabbianelli said. Meanwhile Desjardin is staying in contact with the department on a daily basis as his health allows.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Rachelle Tome is accepting additional duties, Gabbianelli said.

Desjardin, formerly of Auburn, graduated from Edward Little High School in 1982, the same year as Auburn Superintendent Katy Grondin.

He attended Florida State University, taught at Bowdoin College and worked as a historian for the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

He became acting commissioner in 2014 after former Commissioner Jim Rier suffered a stroke.