Mary Ellen Tenaglia was born and raised in Waltham and has taught in Waltham since earning her Massachusetts teaching license. Mary Ellen was the Assistant Principal at Northeast Elementary School for two years from 2015-2017, before being appointed the Interim Principal in June, 2017.  During her time as Assistant Principal, she partnered with the Principal to create a culture of learning and collaboration. Under their leadership, Northeast made many academic gains due to a school wide focus on instructional priorities outlined in English Language Arts and Math, which focused on the Shifts in the Common Core State Standards. Prior to Northeast, Mary Ellen taught at FitzGerald, Stanley, and Fitch Elementary Schools.

Mary Ellen is a graduate of St. Joseph’s College of Maine and has completed graduate studies at Framingham State College (teacher certification and Language and Literacy) and at EDCO Collaborative/Endicott College, through which she earned her Massachusetts principal/assistant principal license. As a principal intern at FitzGerald Elementary School, she established a Literacy Team that focused on targeting specific reading initiatives. She modeled innovative math instruction to teachers and administrators from across the district and has worked closely with teachers to support the implementation of this instructional approach. Mary Ellen believes in collaboration and works with all school stakeholders to ensure a safe learning environment where students have the opportunity to succeed.

Mary Ellen is dedicated to the students and community of Waltham and is ecstatic to remain on in her role as the Principal of the Northeast Elementary School.

Kelly McAvoy has spent her career working towards improving the lives of Waltham’s students. A Waltham native, Kelly has taught both special education and third grade at MacArthur Elementary for the past twelve years. She earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education from Framingham State University and completed her CAGS degree in School Leadership through American International College. She completed her principal internship at MacArthur and served in an interim assistant principal role from July - November 2016.
Previously, Kelly served as the district’s PreK-5 Mentor Coordinator, in which she  helped to ensure Waltham supports new teachers, improve teacher and student learning, and retain highly effective educators. She also served as Site Coordinator for the Title 1 Summer Math and Literacy Program at Plympton Elementary School. Her most recent involvement in school and district-based committees included the District Strategic Planning
Committee, Waltham Youth Mayoral Summit, and Elementary Capacity Community Committee.
 
Kelly’s love of Waltham runs deep and she has a pulse on the heart of our city’s schools – where we’ve come from, where we are headed, and the incredible task and responsibility of moving in the right direction to get there. Kelly approaches learning, teaching, and leading with compassion and love. Her enthusiasm and love of learning is contagious. She believes in serving as a model for setting high expectations, reflective practice, and collaboration within an educational organization. Kelly adheres to the principle that the foundation for relationships is trust and respect and she is excited to remain on in her role as Assistant Principal of the Northeast community.