SWAMPSCOTT — Superintendent of Schools Pamela Angelakis released a statement of reflection and gratitude toward the community and Swampscott Public Schools as her time in the role comes to an end.
“As my tenure in Swampscott Public Schools draws to a close, I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to have spent my entire 35-year career in one district. And I could not have asked for a better place than Swampscott,” Angelakis said.
She recalled her first day working in a school and how she got to work with a “committed community,” according to Angelakis.
“I remember distinctly the feelings of excitement and nervousness on my first day as an aide at the Clarke School in 1990. From there to Machon, to Clarke, to Stanley, to the central office, I have been fortunate to work with engaged students, excellent educators, and a committed community,” she said.
She touched on one of the core principles of leadership — to create change in your environment for the better.
“Anyone in a leadership position has a goal of leaving the organization in a better place than when they started,” she said. “Thanks to an extremely capable team, strong support system, and collaborative environment, I would humbly say that box has been checked.”
Angelakis continued, “Swampscott is a special place where public education is valued and supported by the community. The district allowed me to grow in knowledge and experience, which gave me the confidence I needed to succeed as superintendent.”
She said that she was “especially grateful that the School Committee in 2013 took a chance on someone with no superintendent experience, but a proven commodity in the district with more than two decades of service.”
“I appreciate those who saw my potential as a leader, and I have spent every day since trying to validate their confidence. I feel strongly that our district is in a great place, and I am confident that Jason Calichman is the right person to sustain the momentum and move it forward,” Angelakis said.
She then finished her letter of reflection in the town newsletter with one last line: “Thank you, Swampscott.”
