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CHELMSFORD, Massachusetts (Aug. 15, 2025) – The start of every new school year brings about many changes. For Jaclyn Vitale, Ed.D, that means stepping out of the classroom and into an administrative role.

“It’s definitely been a journey to get here, but I’m excited,” Dr. Vitale said of becoming the new Hawthorne House Dean at Chelmsford High School.

The journey begins

“I knew I wanted to be a teacher from a young age,” Dr. Vitale said. “Originally, I thought I wanted to do elementary education, but as I grew older, I kind of steered away from that.”

Dr. Vitale ended up choosing math as her focus, graduating from Westfield State University and beginning her teaching career at CHS in 2011.

“I’ve loved being in Chelmsford,” she said, adding that she felt lucky the district had an opening just as she was starting her career.

She went on to obtain a master’s degree in education with a focus on curriculum and instruction from Concordia University, as well as a doctorate of education in transformative leadership from University of New England.

Throughout her tenure at CHS, Dr. Vitale has slowly eased her way into various leadership roles.

She served as the Student Support with Disabilities (SSD) Coordinator, assuming responsibilities related to testing accommodations for standardized tests, including PSAT, SATs, AP and ACT exams.

Dr. Vitale was also a co-leader of the high school’s Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and coordinator of the CHS After-School Activities program.

Moving to Hawthorne House

Dr. Vitale said she is incredibly excited for the opportunity to serve as the Dean of Hawthorne House.

“It’s amazing to be able to grow within the place that you first started,” she said. “I look forward to continuing to work on my professional practice and slide into this new role and see a new part of education. … In addition to working with students and dealing with discipline and the daily ins and outs of being a student at Chelmsford High, I will also be working with our staff to make this a place where they want to continue to be.”

While she is thrilled to be stepping into an administrative role, Dr. Vitale said she will miss teaching students.

“They’re definitely what gets you into the building every single day,” she said. “Every day, you’re learning something from them; they test your abilities and your knowledge in the best way possible. … Moving to an administrative position was the next logical step for me. But I didn’t want to be away from the kids.”

Looking to the future, Dr. Vitale said she hasn’t really given much thought to the next step in her career.

“Right now, my focus is on learning and growing in this position to be the best that I can be and support the students and staff within the building, as well as the admin team,” she said. “For me right now, this is the goal – to become better and continuously learn.”

Dr. Vitale’s predecessor, Christina Mitza, left the position to become Assistant Principal at Marshall Middle School in Billerica.

“This move represents a return to my roots and my love for working with middle school students,” Mitza shared. “While I am excited about this next chapter, it is bittersweet to be saying goodbye to the CHS community. I have truly enjoyed serving as a dean here and I am grateful for the relationships I’ve made along the way.”

In a letter to CHS staff, Principal Stephen Murray shared his enthusiasm about Dr. Vitale joining the administrative team.

“Dr. Vitale brings with her a wealth of experience, compassion and a strong commitment to student success,” he said. “She is deeply invested in helping each student feel seen, heard and supported. … We are confident that under her leadership, Hawthorne House will continue to grow as a place of connection, learning and belonging.”

Dr. Vitale and her husband, Craig, who teaches history at Chelmsford High School, live in Westford; they have two children, Emanuele, 17, and Elouise, 2.

About Chelmsford Public Schools

The Chelmsford Public School District provides all students with multiple pathways to optimize their own potential for academic excellence, leadership, and social and emotional wellness. The mission of the Chelmsford Public Schools is to educate, engage, prepare, and empower well-rounded and knowledgeable learners to PERSEVERE through challenges, demonstrate RESPECT and INTEGRITY in their words and actions, are DEDICATED to their community, and display EMPATHY as global citizens while discovering and pursuing their full potential. This PRIDE-driven culture enables all members of the school community to support the growth and development of students. For more information, please visit www.chelmsfordschools.org.