Chelmsford High School Names New Dean Of Emerson House

CHELMSFORD, MA — Chelmsford High School (CHS) has named Erin MacNeil as the new Dean of Emerson House, according to a news release.

MacNeil will replace Dr. Bobby Lyons beginning August 2. Lyons has served as Dean of Emerson House since 2013 and is leaving to accept the Associate Principal position at his alma mater Waltham High School.

“Ms. MacNeil has over 13 years of classroom and administrative experience and expertise in supporting students and staff through professional development initiatives, restorative justice practices, and school planning,” said CHS Principal Steve Murray in a statement. “Her ability to cultivate genuine and enduring relationships with members of the school community makes her a perfect fit for CHS."

"Ms. MacNeil believes that every student can learn, regardless of their challenges, and she works hard at creating and sustaining a positive learning environment," he continued. "We welcome her to CHS and are very excited that she will be part of our school community.”

MacNeil has served as the Assistant Principal of Lowell Catholic High School for the last five years and spent eight years as a history teacher and department chair at St. Clement High School in Medford. She also doubled as an International Standard Classification of Education (ISCE) teacher at Tufts University for six years and has experience as a long-term substitute and paraprofessional in the Medford Public School system.

“I have worked with many people whose children attended CHS and who have worked there previously,” said MacNeil in a statement. “Everything they had to say about the community was positive and uplifting."

“Once I walked into the interview with the students I was immediately at home,” she continued. “The students obviously love their school and their CHS family and I wanted to be a part of that."

MacNeil said her first goal is to meet and talk with as many students, parents, teachers, and community members as possible and her second goal is to learn about the CHS traditions and procedures. Her third foals is to make sure her students and colleagues know the she is there for them and has their best interests in mind.

More information about Chelmsford High School staff members can be found here.