The Swampscott Middle School has played a major role in Jessica Minter’s career, and on July 1, she will become its new principal. 

Minter, who has been a special education teacher at the school for eight years, will replace Jason Calichman, who is moving up to become the district’s new superintendent. 

“I’ve been at Swampscott Middle School since I graduated college, and I would have never guessed I would end up at a middle school but I love it,” Minter said. “I’m still there, and now going to be the principal.”

However, Minter’s time at Swampscott Middle School began before her teaching role. Originally from Peabody, Minter was at a cookout with her aunt, Attendant of Student Services Martha Raymond, who encouraged Minter to come to Swampscott. 

“She recruited me in, and I’m glad she did,” Minter said.

She worked as an ADA tutor while she was “in limbo,” unsure on what to pursue for her master’s degree. Minter, however, said her time within the classroom helped make up her mind.

“Within six months of being in that classroom, I fell in love with it and knew that I wanted to go back for my master’s in special education,” Minter said. 

After getting her master’s degree from Salem State University, Minter then returned to Swampscott and became the teacher of the classroom she had tutored in. She taught those students for four years, forming strong bonds with each of them.

“By the time they graduate from eighth grade, it is like they are my own kids,” Minter said. 

She entered the certificate of advanced graduate program there in 2022, within which Calichman served as her practicum advisor. The 500-hour program is designed to help experienced educators deepen their knowledge and leadership skills.

“It opened a lot more doors,” Minter said. “I got to meet a lot more kids than I did as a teacher and I also got to work with the staff differently, which I really enjoyed.”

She was able to work a lot with Calichman as well as Emily Zotto, who is the assistant principal of the middle school and will become principal of the high school on July 1. 

“The past year, Jason and I have been in a similar situation,” Minter said. “Pam (Angelakis) took him under her wing and showed him the ropes, and he was doing the same thing with me in the main office of the middle school.”

Minter had also completed her undergraduate at Salem State University, where she wrote a thesis on leadership, so she said it was “always kind of my plan” to get into the administration side of education.

“I like working with the school as a whole,” Minter said.

Minter said part of the reason she wanted to become middle school principal was because of the “strong and amazing” staff. 

“I have such good relationships with so many people,” Minter said. “Working in a school, especially in leadership, is about building relationships. Having the foundation with the staff and students, it made it an easy to step on up and take on the leadership role within the school.”

Looking forward, Minter said her “next step is finding my leadership style.”

“I think my approach for next year is listening,” Minter said. “I already have ideas of what we can tweak in the school, but I know that Jason has been there for so long and has done such a good job that I’m not going to come in and rock the boat. I’m going to come in, observe and listen, take everything in and from there I will start to implement. Nowhere is perfect, but my plan is not to come in and flip the school on its head because it doesn’t need to be.”

She is excited to continue the Big Blue Pride team celebrations that Calichman started. Students currently earn a t-shirt as part of their recognition, and Minter is thinking about expanding the program to include other aspects to encourage the community. 

Minter also sees collaboration between the elementary, middle and high schools.

“I think it would be great to have some form of a mentorship for our eighth graders so they can get to high school and recognize some older kids, and vice versa with the elementary school,” Minter said. “Lori (Sanborn), Emily and myself – there will definitely be a lot of connections between the three schools.”