Incoming Capuano administrator brings strong instructional leadership and counseling experience to new role in Somerville
Somerville, MA – Somerville Public Schools Superintendent, Tony Pierantozzi, announced today that Cheryl A. Piccirelli has been selected as the next Principal of the Michael E. Capuano Early Childhood Center. Ms. Piccirelli is currently the principal of the Jaworek Elementary School in Marlborough, MA, a position she has held for nearly five years. She will assume her new duties in Somerville beginning July 1, 2015. Ms. Piccirelli will succeed Pam Holmes, who is retiring at the end of this school year after serving Somerville children for 45 years as an employee of the Somerville Public Schools, including as the Principal of the Capuano Early Childhood Center since 2009.
Ms. Piccirelli brings nearly 10 years of experience as a public school administrator in Marlborough that includes a strong foundation in the use of data to help effectively inform instruction to meet the needs of a diverse range of learners. As Principal of Jaworek Elementary, a K-4 school with an economically and culturally diverse student population of 750, Ms. Piccirelli piloted Standards-based report cards that align to the Massachusetts Frameworks and Common Core standards. She also led numerous initiatives to promote the use of differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all students. Ms. Piccirelli began her educational career as a School Adjustment Counselor for the Marlborough Public Schools where her responsibilities included managing all aspects of social work across five elementary schools and an early childhood center.
“Cheryl Piccirelli’s experience as an instructional leader, her social work background, and her educational philosophy centered on empowering teachers and providing the support they need to thrive in their profession will continue to ensure that Somerville’s youngest learners get off to a great start,” said Superintendent Pierantozzi. “I am confident that she will continue to lead the Capuano toward excellence as a creative learning community that fosters a lifelong love of learning in our students. Ms. Piccirelli will follow the outstanding leadership of Pam Holmes, who in her lengthy career in Somerville has advocated successfully for early childhood.”
“It is with great pleasure and anticipation that I look forward to serving as the Principal of the Capuano Early Childhood Center. I am genuinely excited to partner with the faculty and families in a collaborative effort to deliver optimal educational experiences for Somerville’s youngest students,” commented Ms. Piccirelli. “I am also excited to have the opportunity to work with a leadership team that is dedicated to cultivating the intellectual, physical, and social emotional potential of every student. My experience and passion are rooted in whole child education and the social emotional well being of children. Somerville serves as a model for early education and its commitment to a Universal Kindergarten Readiness System is impressive. I am eager to contribute to its success.”
Ms. Piccirelli joins the Somerville Public Schools after nearly 20 years with the Marlborough Public Schools (MPS) including several years as an MPS School Adjustment Counselor. She then served as Assistant Principal at Marlborough’s Richer Elementary School for four years before accepting an Interim Principal position at Jaworek Elementary. She was named Principal of Jaworek a year later. Ms. Piccirelli has also demonstrated a commitment to continued professional growth and has completed numerous professional development trainings including the National Institute for School Leadership, Responsive Classroom, Empowering Multicultural Initiatives (EMI), Data Driven Decision Making, Leading the Learning, Parent Involvement Project, Reciprocal Teaching Strategies for English Language Learners, Safe Schools Anti-Bullying Initiatives, and others.
Ms. Piccirelli is a graduate of Worcester State College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She earned a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA. She has also completed additional coursework in the Master of Arts – Administration program at Cambridge College.
The Somerville Public Schools follows a standard and inclusive recruitment and hiring process for school administrators to ensure broad community input. The process begins with focus group meetings with parents/guardians, faculty members, and members of the school’s community, that provide input in the development of a candidate profile. A separate and representative Screening Committee and Interview Panel are established for each position to determine the pool of applicants who best match the School and District’s needs. A slate of final candidates is forwarded to the Superintendent of Schools, who makes the final hiring decision based on the Interview Panel’s recommendations, a comprehensive personal interview process, and extensive reference checks.