Salem High School Principal With Short Tenure Takes New Job

SALEM, MA —Vittoria Pacifico, who served as interim principal at Salem High School for just three months, was named headmaster at the Academy of Notre Dame in Tyngsborough. The board of directors at the girl's school announced Pacifico's appointment in a message sent to students, faculty and families on Wednesday.

"We feel enormously blessed to have Vittoria join the NDA community as she brings precisely the expertise we require at this pivotal time," Timothy Stever, a Notre Dame board member and current parent, said in a statement. "In addition to her background as teacher, vice principal, principal and president, she has grade school, high school and all-girls experience. On top of that, she's a Massachusetts resident and has been working locally for the majority of her career."

Pacifico submitted her resignation, effective June 30, to Salem Public Schools earlier at this month. She had started in the position in March and had been contracted to fill the position through the 2019-20 school year as school officials looked for a permanent principal for Salem High.

At the time of Pacifico's resignation, Acting Superintendent M. Kate Carbone, said the school system plans to name her replacement by July 1.

"We recognize that the Salem High School community has experienced a high level of change over the past year and realize this can cause a level of uncertainty that can be unsettling," Carbone wrote. "Therefore, we acknowledge the need to thoughtfully, and yet quickly, identify the interim leader for next school year. It is essential that we have a leader in place to continue planning and work over the summer."

Carbone's complete letter, which includes a timeline of the hiring process, was posted on the school system's Website. She said the hiring process to find a permanent principal will begin in November or December.

Jennifer DeStefano resigned as principal of Salem High School on March 13, less than a year after taking the job in July 2018. She later said she did not feel supported by administrators as she tried to turn around the struggling school.

On the same day DeStefano resigned, Superintendent Margarita Ruiz announced Pacifico had been hired as her interim replacement. Pacifico did not have the proper license for public school principals in Massachusetts, a fact Ruiz dismissed as a "non-issue" because she has 90 days to get the license or apply for a waiver.

Pacifico contacted Salem Public Schools as early as Jan. 29 about an unadvertised, interim high school principal position as early as Jan. 29. She interviewed for the job on Feb. 4 and was offered the position on Feb. 14, a month before DeStefano resigned.

Parents, who felt the process had not been transparent, put pressure on the school committee and Ruiz. Ruiz ultimately resigned in April and Carbone was named to the acting superintendent post.

Last month the Salem School Committee unanimously voted to name Kathleen Smith interim superintendent for the 2019-20 school year. The 7-0 vote followed an 80-minute interview with Smith, who will retire as superintendent of Brockton Public Schools at the end of this school year after 42 years with the district.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).