Andover Public Schools Welcome 3 New Principals

Press release from Andover Public Schools:

ANDOVER, MA — Dr. Magda Parvey, superintendent of Andover Public Schools, is pleased to welcome three new principals to the district. In the 2024-25 school year, Mr. James D’Andrea, Rebecca Perry, and Dr. Mary Ellen Carideo-Cobbs will lead Andover High School, Doherty Middle School, and West Elementary School, respectively.

“I am excited to bring such talented and experienced leaders to serve as principals at APS,” notes Dr. Parvey. “I am confident their collaborative leadership will have a positive impact on the educational environment in Andover. I would like to thank the search committees who partnered with the district through this process, their voices and insight were integral to the success of these searches. I am appreciative of their commitment in bringing the best possible leadership and opportunities for our staff and students.”

Mr. James D’Andrea- incoming principal at Andover High School

Mr. D’Andrea comes to Andover High School with 23 years of experience in public education. He currently serves as the principal of Cheltenham High School, just north of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Prior to his work at Cheltenham High School, he served as an administrator in Montgomery County, Maryland Public Schools for 15 years, including four years as the principal of Kingsview Middle School and five years as the principal of Northwest High School.

Mr. D’Andrea started his career in education at Anacostia Senior High School in Washington, DC, serving as a biology and chemistry teacher, 9th grade team leader, and academy coordinator. He was named the Washington Post Teacher of the Year for Washington, DC, in 2006.

Mr. D'Andrea holds a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University, master’s degrees from George Washington University and the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a graduate certificate in school administration and supervision from Johns Hopkins University.

Ms. Rebecca Perry - incoming principal at Doherty Middle School

Ms. Perry is excited to continue her career in Andover, working collaboratively with the talented faculty and staff to serve the families of the Andover community. Ms. Perry has been an administrator in the Andover Public Schools since 2016. She started her career in Andover as an Assistant Principal at Doherty Middle School and is currently one of the Assistant Principals at Andover High School. Recently, Ms. Perry provided professional development to Andover educators on school climate and culture, where teachers practiced their data analysis skills. Rebecca has played a crucial role in developing and leading professional development opportunities for educators in Andover and her previous districts.

Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and Natural Science from Lesley University, and a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction, also from Lesley. After years of teaching, Ms. Perry completed coursework at the Commonwealth Leadership Academy and became licensed as a school administrator. While at Andover Public Schools, she earned a graduate certificate in School Climate and Social and Emotional Learning from William and James College.

Dr. Mary Ellen Carideo-Cobbs

Dr. Carideo-Cobbs comes to West Elementary School with 27 years’ experience as a public school educator, having served as principal for eleven years. Dr. Carideo-Cobbs has served in numerous leadership roles in districts across Massachusetts, including Boston Public Schools, Chelsea Public Schools, Melrose Public Schools, and served as principal at the Arthur D. Healey (K-8) School in Somerville, Massachusetts. As an instructional leader, Dr. Carideo-Cobbs developed and led professional development on the Science of Reading and worked in collaboration with instructional coaches to enhance instructional delivery. After four years as principal, Dr. Carideo-Cobbs stepped down from her role and accepted a one year position in Arlington where she serves as the literacy coach for Hardy Elementary School.

Dr. Carideo-Cobbs holds a doctoral degree from UMASS Boston’s Graduate School of Education, a master’s degree in Multicultural Education from Emmanuel College and a bachelor’s degree in English Education from the University of New Hampshire. In addition to being a life-long educator, she has volunteered abroad to support professional development and the development of library programs in Nicaragua and is an active volunteer in various local social service programs.

“I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the interim principals who supported the district throughout the 2023-24 school year,” adds Dr. Parvey. “Elizabeth Taylor, John Norton, and Dr. Joanne King all stepped out of retirement to provide Andover High School, Doherty Middle School, and West Elementary School with strong leadership. I wish them the best with their future plans.”

This press release was produced by Andover Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.