Salem Public Schools
SPS Community,
This week marked the final days of the 2025-26 academic year, and once again, it has been a privilege to serve your children and family. We hope you have a safe, restful, and enjoyable summer break. Please don’t forget to visit our summer learning page which is full of amazing resources including our summer reading challenge.
This has been a year of milestones:
A record number of high school students enrolled in advanced placement (AP) courses, CTE programs, attending college and pursuing trades.
Record low chronic absenteeism
State champions in music, fine arts and athletics.
We’re very proud and excited to continue the trajectory in which the district is heading. While the school year ended this week, we’ve already started planning for next year with our two-day Summer Leadership Institute this week at which school/department leadership teams take part in strategic activities and challenges as a start for developing their annual improvement plans for 2026-27.
A few reminders:
Until August, our newsletter will be published every two weeks.
The final interviews for our candidates for the role of Superintendent are as follows:
Thomas Welch: Monday, July 6 (6 p.m.)
Jorge Allen: Tuesday, July 7 (6 p.m.)
Andrew Bott: Thursday, July 9 (6 p.m.)
Our 2026 Summer Learning details and rewards can be found at salemk12.org/summer. Any student who completes a reading log will be entered into a drawing to be featured in a round table discussion with Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo on Salem Access TV to discuss their favorite books. In addition, top readers will have their favorite books displayed, with their names, at Salem Public Library’s recommended books section.
The first days of school for the 2026-27 academic year are as follows:
Grades 1-8: Thursday, Sept. 3
Grade 9: Wednesday, Sept. 2
Grades 10-12: Thursday, Sept. 3
Pre-K, Kindergarten: Thursday, Sept. 10
Salem Prep Grades 9-12: Thursday, Sept. 3
New Liberty Innovation School: Thursday, Sept. 3
Thank you for another outstanding school year. We look forward to welcoming your children back to school in September.
Kate Carbone,
Interim Superintendent
The Salem News | Napierkowski to leave district after 38 years of music leadership
After 38 years of dedicated work leading the music programs of Salem Public Schools to the place they are today, Cynthia Napierkowski will be departing from the district. In her time with the district, Napierkowski served as the Director of Bands and PreK–12 Coordinator of Music, transforming the district’s musical programing with the creation of a private lesson program, multiple recitals, regular fundraising events, and new ensembles such as the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
SHS Director of Athletics Reilly Christie Announces Resignation to Accept AD Role at Malden Catholic
Reilly Christie, educator and Director of Athletics at Salem High School for the last four years, will step down to accept the Director of Athletics role at Malden Catholic High School, effective Friday, July 10.
SHS Medical Assisting Program Partners with MGB Salem Hospital to Expand Student Practicum Opportunities
Salem High School is proud to announce a new collaboration between its Career and Technical Education (CTE) Medical Assisting program and Mass General Brigham’s Salem Hospital that provides students with the opportunity to complete a portion of their required practicum hours within a real-world healthcare setting.
WATCH | Carlton Innovation School 2026 Moving On Ceremony
View highlights from the Carlton Innovation School 2026 Moving On Ceremony which took place Thursday, June 11 at the Carlton School Auditorium. The ceremony signified the final fifth grade class of the Carlton Innovation School before the merger with the Saltonstall School to form the Sarah Parker Remond School in August 2026.
Bentley Academy Educator Jonay Gonzalez Morera Named Recipient of Margaret Voss Howard Teacher Recognition Award
Jonay Gonzalez Morera, a pre-kindergarten dual language educator at the Bentley Academy Innovation School, was named the recipient of the Margaret Voss Howard Teacher Recognition Award Tuesday, June 16, at a ceremony at the BAIS Auditorium.
WATCH | New Liberty Innovation School Class of 2026 Commencement Highlights
The New Liberty Innovation School Class of 2026 Commencement took place Wednesday, June 3 at the Peabody Essex Museum. The video is narrated by Cynthia Nina-Soto (Salem High School ’99), who was the ceremony’s keynote speaker.
The Salem School Committee has announced interview dates with the three finalists for the role of Superintendent at Salem Public Schools:
- Thomas Welch: Monday, July 6 (6 p.m.)
- Jorge Allen: Tuesday, July 7 (6 p.m.)
- Andrew Bott: Thursday, July 9 (6 p.m.)
Live links to the interviews will be provided. For more information on our finalists for the Superintendent's role, visit salemk12.org/search.
Are you interested in making a difference in our schools while building a rewarding career that aligns with your child’s school schedule? We are excited to announce an upcoming information session for our new course, "Parent to Paraprofessional."
This course, launching at the end of this summer, is designed to guide you through the vital role of a school paraprofessional and give you a clear understanding of what to expect in this position. Whether you are looking to enter the education field or want to learn how to better support our students, this session is for you.
Event Details:
- Date: Monday, June 29th
- Time: 3:30 PM
- Location: Virtual: https://meet.google.com/use-mxzt-xnk
- Dial in: +1 231-769-0871 (PIN: 190 666 258#)
Why Attend? Learn About the Role: Get an inside look at the responsibilities, challenges, and daily life of a school paraprofessional.
Preview the Course: Hear a breakdown of what the training will cover.
Ask Questions: This is your chance to ask questions and get answers before signing up for the course.
No prior experience is necessary to attend. We hope to see you there and look forward to exploring this exciting pathway together.
If you cannot make the session but would like more information, please contact Laurel Chabib at lchabib@salemk12.org.
DESE plans to make the Family Portal available beginning on Friday, Aug. 14 with preliminary MCAS results from all subjects (English language arts, mathematics, science and technology/engineering, and civics) available at one time.
The new date recognizes the time needed to communicate with families and the importance of having school and district personnel available to answer questions. Even with this revised timeline, families will still receive MCAS results sooner than they have in past years.
DESE will post updated materials and translations (including revised versions of the letter with instructions to access the portal, the letter from Commissioner Martinez, and the FAQs) to the Family Portal webpage as they become available over the coming weeks.
We appreciate the feedback that district and school leaders provided and look forward to partnering with you to support families with the MCAS Family Portal.
For more information, view the DESE MCAS website.
The Spring 2026 Family/Caregiver Survey is now available. We value your opinion and encourage your input as you are an important part in the life of your scholar and many others and a valued member of the Salem Public Schools community. We would be honored if you would take a moment of your time to share your feedback with us.
The survey will be open from May 21, 2026-July 3, 2026 and should take no more than 15 minutes. We encourage you to take one survey per student you care for, if you would like to. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Haitian Creole among many other languages.
Should you have any questions or need support please reach out to the Family Welcome Center at 978-740-1225 or email WelcomeCenter@salemk12.org.
ParentSquare is the communication platform for Salem Public Schools. Families receive communication from the district, school, and their student's classroom all in one space. Families can communicate 1-to-1 with teachers, register for parent-teacher conferences, and more.
If you are not receiving messages from ParentSquare or if you are having trouble, contact your school's front office. You can visit www.parentsquare.com for more information.