Stanley Principal Pamela Angelakis To Be New Assistant Superintendent

The School Committee voted 4-0 on Wednesday to approve the superintendent's recommendation for a new assistant superintendent — Pamela Angelakis, the principal of Stanley Elementary School.

Angelakis, a 22-year veteran of the Swampscott School District, starts her new post July 1, said Superintendent Lynne Celli. 

The superintendent said she was not at liberty to say why the current assistant superintendent, Maureen Bingham, is being replaced. 

Before the superintendent named Pamela Angelakis as the internal candidate for the assistant position, the superintendent and School Committee members spent 30 minutes or more debating the merits of forming a search committee versus hiring from within the district.

The superintendent said time was of the essence. It would take 4-6 weeks for the committee to find the person to fill the position, and the pool of qualified candidates for this type of post is very limited. 

Furthermore, she said a search committee, whose make-up would include Swampscott principals and teachers, would very likely bring forward the same person she was going to recommend.

In addition, the superintendent said the internal candidate would bring continuity, knowledge of the district, respect and a strong work ethic to the position.

The assistant superintendent's responsibilities include establishing curriculum, professional development and maintaining grant funding.

School Committee member Marianne Hartmann worried that failing to complete a search would put undue pressure on the internal candidate to succeed.

In the end, however, she and the other members endorsed the superintendent's recommendation that the district hire from within. 

New member Ted Delano said hiring from within sends a signal to district employees that opportunities are available in Swampscott.

Chairman Larry Beaupre said an internal candidate understands the educational landscape including the politics.

After the superintendent recommended Angelakis, committee members voted 4-0 to hire the Stanley principal. Her contract will be for one year and is to be negotiated, the superintendent said.

The principal thanked the committee for their vote of confidence. 

She said she recognized there was a learning curve but she would spend her summer getting caught up.

"I will not let you down," she said.

In her 22 years with the district Angelakis was a teacher for 14 years and the principal at Stanley for eight years.

She said in an interview that she brings knowledge of the district to the new position.

The challenge will be meeting its extensive responsibilities.

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

She is pursuing her doctorate degree and is licensed to be an assistant superintendent.

The superintendent said she hopes to have a new principal in place at Stanley by the end of June.