School Committee Makes it Official: Pam Angelakis New Superintendent

School Committee members revoted to appoint Assistant Superintendent Pam Angelakis the district's superintendent effective Feb. 1.

Tuesday's vote was unanimous, as was the previous one.

The previous appointment, two weeks ago, did not adhere to state meeting law since the vote went unposted on the meeting agenda. Members had not intended on taking action that night but strong support for Angelakis and a call for a decision created its own momentum leading to the vote.

Tuesday's vote was posted, and, unlike two weeks earlier, Pam Angelakis was present.

The new superintendent said she is devoted to the district and eager to get started.

She said she knows where the district has been — including the mistakes it has made — knows where it is now, and knows where it is heading.

She thanked the School Committee, Interim Superintendent Garry Murphy, teachers, administrators and others for their support.

That support was a groundswell, Committee members said.

Member Amy O'Connor and others said they were floored by the overwhelming support for the appointment — near unanimous endorsement from the school community and the public at large.

Committee member Marianne Hartmann said, "People were dancing."

Now in her 24th year with the district, Angelakis was a teacher for 14 years and the principal at Stanley for eight years, and has been an assistant superintendent for about a year and a half.

Angelakis has two master's degrees: one from Columbia University in computers and technology; and the other from Salem State University in educational leadership.