SWAMPSCOTT — Community members gathered at the new Swampscott Elementary School’s cafetorium Monday night to take part in a public forum with Superintendent of Schools candidate Jason Calichman.
In September, current Superintendent of Schools Pamela Angelakis officially endorsed Calichman to be her successor when she retires on June 30, 2025. Calichman has held a leadership position at the middle school since 2011, when he started as an assistant principal. He was promoted to his current position of principal in 2015.
On Oct. 24, the School Committee conducted a formal interview of Calichman that lasted more than two hours. The Committee organized the forum as an opportunity for residents to voice questions or concerns to Calichman before it takes a vote to appoint him as the Superintendent on Thursday, Nov. 7.
Swampscott Elementary School Principal Lori Sanborn began the comments with an endorsement of Calichman, citing him as a mentor in her own career.
“Jason (Calichman) taught me the importance of being visible, team-oriented, transparent, reflective, and resilient,” Sanborn said. “All the leadership traits that Jason would bring to the superintendency.”
Swampscott Education Association President Rebecca Buckman and high school teacher Michelle Yanofsky presented Calichman with questions on behalf of the entire SEA. They asked Calichman if he supports and plans on having regular meetings with their association moving forward, much like Angelakis did.
“I do have that open-door policy; I want teachers to come to me,” Calichman said.
Select Board member Danielle Leonard also spoke glowingly of Calichman, who worked closely with Calichman in the district for nearly a decade.
“He’s empathetic, he’s supportive, he’s incredibly intelligent,” Leonard said. “He’s the first to admit when he’s wrong and pivot.”
Leonard named Calichman’s equal treatment of everyone in his life as one of his greatest strengths.
While Calichman received a large amount of praise, some attendees did express reservations they have with him taking up the role of Superintendent. Katie Arrington took to the microphone to express her concern with what she feels is a lack of focus on special education students by Calichman.
“I’ve had a lot of families reach out to me…That are concerned specifically about special-ed families,” Arrington said. “My child came to your interview and wanted to speak but was feared of retribution.”
Calichman responded by saying that special education has to be a priority of the district, despite its naturally high costs.
Maura Lau expressed that in her experience, Calichman has not been as approachable as Angelakis. She cited one of her children’s experiences with Calichman, when he acted as high school principal for a day out of necessity, and felt the students were “yelled at” during lunch under Calichman’s authority.
“I do have high expectations,” Calichman said in response. “I don’t consider myself a yeller, actually, even when kids get in trouble at school, I’m the first to say, ‘We all make mistakes.’”
