Salem Names New Interim Principal For High School

SALEM, MA — Salem Public Schools named Dr. Samantha Meier the interim principal of Salem High School for the 2019-20 school year. Meier, who has been with Revere Public Schools for the past 19 years, replaces Vittoria Pacifico, who left after just three months in the position. Meier most recently served as deputy principal at Revere High School and was previously principal at the Garfield Middle School in the district.

"A skilled and passionate leader, Dr. Meier puts all students at the center of her decision making," Acting Superintendent Kate Carbone said in anote to the school community Friday. "Throughout her career she has demonstrated the ability to authentically engage students, teachers, and parents as partners in the work. In addition, Dr. Meier has shown she is capable of establishing strong routines particularly as they relate to shaping a positive school culture."

Carbone interviewed four of the six candidates screened by the district's review team before choosing Meier. When Pacifico submitted her resignation last month to accept a new position, Carbone said the new interim principal would be in place by July 1. The district will look to hire a permanent principal during the 2019-20 school year.

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.