Swampscott Resident, Former St. John's Teacher Named To Salem State Board Of Trustees

SALEM, MA — A Swampscott resident and former St. John's Prep and Salem High teacher is a new member of the Salem State University Board of Trustees.

A. Thomas Billings graduated from Salem State in 1972 and SSU graduate school in 1975. He taught for 22 years as a Salem State University professor and another 22 years at North Shore high schools.

He has served many years on the alumni association and received the Outstanding Educator
Award in 1999 and the Elizabeth Williams Wade Award from the Salem StateAlumni Association in 2004.

"I see being a trustee at SSU as an extension of service and an opportunity to give back to the school that did so much for me and my family," Billings said. "After all, someone looked out for me when I needed it most, starting off as a student here, and now it is my turn to help keep the tradition of excellence alive at Salem State University."

Billings also spent more than two decades teaching at Salem High School and St. John's Prep.

(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.)