Swampscott Special Education Teacher Named Middle School Principal

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — A Swampscott Middle School special education teacher for the past eight years will move into a leadership position as the school's principal starting on July 1.

Jessica Minter replaces Jason Calichman, who was named the next superintendent upon the retirement of Pamela Angelakis as of July 1.

"It's a huge honor and great responsibility," Minter said. "The staff is rock-solid and so supportive. That played such a crucial part in my decision."

Minter earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Salem State University and entered the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies program at SSU in 2022. She completed her studies last month.

She did her practicum at SMS in the 2024-25 school year, with Calichman as her advisor.

"From the time I made the decision to go back to school for my master's, getting into leadership and administration were always part of the plan," Minter said. "It's a responsibility and an honor to build relationships with students, staff and families.

"That's the foundation that helps the school run. If you have student learning and student happiness, you’re going to have a successful school. The administration is there to lift everybody up."

Calichman said he is confident Minter is ready to take over leadership of the building.

"Jessica has worked very hard on acquiring the knowledge and skills it takes to be a successful administrator," he said. "She has built strong relationships with students, families and teachers an earned their respect.

"I know she will be an excellent leader.”

A Peabody native who was a three-year captain of the softball team at Salem State, Minter lives in Middleton with her husband, Alex, and 2-year-old daughter, Adaline.

(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.)