Pamela Angelakis, who has been serving as Swampscott’s superintendent of schools for more than a decade now, is thankful the town has embraced her as a strong female leader.
Angelakis says Women’s History Month is a reminder of the strides made at the national and local level to provide opportunities for women to achieve at the highest level.
“I’m forever grateful for all those women who forged a path for us, and I understand the obligation we have to do the same,” she said. “In my job, I can easily be reminded of that by walking into any classroom in our district.”
The Salem native graduated from the city’s namesake state university in 1989. She bided her time pursuing a teaching career by working at her father’s restaurant locations in Lynn and Peabody.
After 15 years of teaching experience, she entered Swampscott’s district as the principal of the Stanley School. In 2014, she was chosen as the new superintendent.
“I think the experience of being a woman in my position has evolved significantly over the years,” Angelakis said. “There certainly was a time when it was not as easy for women to rise to this level, but thankfully, that has changed. Are there times I feel as if a tough decision I have been forced to make has been evaluated with more scrutiny than if I were a male? Yes.”
She feels the Swampscott community has made her work easier in some instances due its “acceptance and inclusion.”
Angelakis said her most important accomplishment during her tenure is fostering an environment in which everyone feels valued, similar to how she feels Swampscott has accepted her in her role.
“I would say it is constantly working to establish a culture in which every student, teacher, administrator and support staff feel as if they are valued, they belong and they have all the resources they need to grow,” Angelakis said. “Along those lines, we have placed an emphasis on social-emotional learning, acknowledging that the days of teaching only academics have long since passed.”
She is looking forward to the town’s new elementary school breaking ground in the fall, where she hopes to continue establishing a positive culture.
