Retired North Andover HS Teacher, Counselor Pete Concannon Honored

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Retired North Andover High School teacher and counselor Pete Concannon was honored Wednesday with an induction into the North Andover School Committee Educator Hall of Fame.

The honor was handed out at the annual Andover Public Schools Celebrating Teachers Night at the North Andover High School Auditorium, where 27 teachers and specialists also were recognized for earning Professional Teacher Status (PTS).

According to his nomination form, Concannon worked at NAHS from 1992 until 2017, teaching entrepreneurship and culinary arts.

Concannon also served as the school's adjustment counselor, providing support to his own pupils, and helping other teachers and their students. He also initiated the school's FOCUS program, which was designed to provide education reinforcement and personal support.

Even within the classroom, according to the nomination form, Concannon's contribution went beyond merely teaching. Concannon's culinary class often provided food for students who needed it, and he used the class as a "counseling or relationship-building tool."

"In (his time at NAHS), Pete has positively impacted hundreds, maybe thousands of at-risk youth," said Dr. Gregg Gilligan, superintendent of North Andover Public Schools. "Pete has over the years provided hope, support and pathways to success for hundreds of students and staff who have struggled with conflict, trauma, mental health issues, grief and addiction."

Gilligan continued: "In my two decades in North Andover, I can honestly claim that Pete has helped our most at-risk students in profound ways, saved lives and put students who saw no future, back on a track to be successful. Pete is one of the most caring, resourceful, successful, and talented educators I have ever worked with in supporting struggling students."