Salem Collins Middle School Welcomes New Assistant Principal

SALEM, MA — Salem's Collins Middle School welcomes a new assistant principal for the upcoming school year as Eliza Cassella, previously the Director of Social and Emotional Learning, Culture and Climate, was recently named to the position.

Cassella has earned two master's degrees and has worked in educational leadership for more than a decade.

"We are so excited to have Eliza join our leadership team this school year," Collins Middle School Gavin Softic said. "Her experience integrating social-emotional learning into the everyday learning environment for staff and students makes her a unique talent that we are very fortunate to have in our community."

The Connecticut native and East Boston resident will oversee grade 7 and help support the implementation of the new Student Success Advisor model, the integration of restorative practices across the school, and CREW 2.0, a space for connection, reflection, excellence, and making real-world connections.

"I feel an overwhelming sense of joy, gratitude, and excitement to be transitioning into the Assistant Principal role at Collins Middle School," Cassella said. "Collins Middle School is cultivating something very special for students and educators, and you can feel and sense that when you walk through the doors.

"It's electric."

Cassella graduated from Assumption College and earned post-graduate degrees at UMass-Boston and Harvard University. She spent five years at City Year, where she was named Team Leader of the Year. She also taught in Charlestown and at East Boston High School while coaching the Eastie JV girls basketball team and serving as a varsity assistant coach.

She is also currently a part-time adjunct professor at Assumption, a role she accepted last year.

"Eliza is driven and committed to the students of Collins," Softic said. "Her work ethic is fueled by her passion and authentic belief in an equitable education experience where all students feel a sense of connectedness and belonging that maximizes their genius."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)