New Principal/Director Takes Reins At MVTHS

The following is a release from Medford Schools

This summer, Charles (Chad) Fallon began his duties as the new Principal/Director of the Medford Vocational Technical High School. The previous Director, Dr. Heidi Riccio, left at the end of the school year to take a position at Essex Regional Technical High School in Danvers, Massachusetts.

Mr. Fallon has an extensive background in vocational technical education, having begun his career as graduate of the Blue Hills Regional Technical High School. He continued his education at Boston College where he received a Bachelor of Arts in English and Cambridge College where he received a Master’s in Education for School Administration.

He began his teaching career at the Belmont Public Schools, and then as a counselor/instructor for the Simmons College Upward Bound Program, where he instructed students in Math and English who were preparing for college. In that role, he served as a mentor for high school students from low-income/minority families. He would later, become the Program Director for Pathways to Success, at Bunker Hill Community College. In this position, Fallon was responsible for student recruitment and retention at the post-secondary level for at-risk students who had not passed the ELA and/or Math MCAS in pursuit of a high school diploma. In 2001, he moved to Keefe Technical High School where he not only taught technology, but also served as the Assessment & Data Coordinator for the district. Since 2011, Mr. Fallon, served as the Director of Technology, Enrollment and Information for Greater Lowell Technical High School in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts.

“Chad brings a wealth of both vocational education and technology expertise to the Medford Public Schools. He will work well with our Associate Principal/Director Jill Sawyer, Headmaster Dr. John Perella, and the assistant high school principals, as they continue to work to bring the high school and the vocational school together. I am confident that this team will provide the very best educational opportunities for all of our high school students”, said Superintendent Roy Belson.

“We’re thrilled to have Chad who brings a tremendous amount of knowledge as a vocational graduate himself. He will now lead our vocational and technical high school,” said Mayor Stephanie M. Burke. “Chad’s extensive vocational technical experience, will support the continuous growth and further development of students within both the vocational school and high school.”

Fallon is eager for the school year to begin, stating, “I saw the opportunity to join the Medford community and jumped at the chance! With the changing landscape of the labor market in the Boston area, I am enthused to be working with such a dynamic team as we prepare our students to enter the workforce and/or post-secondary opportunities. Vocational-Technical education is a unique opportunity for students to learn in a hands-on environment to master a skillset beyond the classroom. Our programs certainly provide students with this opportunity. My goals for the coming years will be to strengthen enrollment in our technical programs, continue to grow our partnerships in the greater Boston area, and work with the faculty and students to make Medford Vocational Technical School, the best in the state. We are the “School to Watch”, said Fallon.