Orphanos Named New Principal at Center School

It's like coming home for Jacqui Orphanos.

The Peabody native is taking the reins at the Center School, succeeding Katherine St. Peter, who retired this year after spending three years as the elementary school's principal. This is Orphanos' first job as a principal.

Orphanos, who was formally introduced to the School Committee Tuesday night, told reporters she almost attended the Center School as a child, but her family moved out of the neighborhood to South Peabody shortly after she was born.

And even though she now lives in Lynnfield, she proudly calls herself a "born and bred" Tanner. Orphanos, who will be 48 in August, was the youngest of four children and has deep Peabody roots.

Her late father was John Berry, who ran a family jewelry store downtown and served as Peabody's state representative in the 1960s, while her mother, Mary Lou Berry, worked as a clerk at Peabody District Court.

Orphanos began her teaching career in 1989 at the Burke School, transferred over to the Carroll School in 1997 and then headed to the North Shore Education Consortium in 2000 for several years before working in Reading and Andover until recently.

She said she's taught preschool, kindergarten, special education, first and second grade, worked as an inclusion specialist at the Beverly-based consortium and spent eight years in administrative roles, which consisted of teacher supervision, curriculum development and program coordination.

"It really feels like coming home," she said Tuesday night, adding that she's "very excited" for the new job and eager to help both students and teachers "be the best they can be."

Superintendent Joe Mastrocola praised Orphanos as a highly skilled educator, consensus builder and able to work together with students and staff. He said multiple candidates applied for the job and she emerged as one of four finalists highly recommended by the screening team.

"I think she's a fine addition to our administrative team," he said, noting she's already "hit the ground running" working together with St. Peter, staff and the PTO.

"I look forward to great things at the Center School," Mastrocola said.

Orphanos said her initial decision to leave Peabody was to further her career. School board member Ed Charest thanked her for coming back, but first asked why.

"I think it was my memories of being a Peabody public school teacher...and how joyful it was being in the classroom," she said.

Orphanos has a bachelor's degree and administrative certificate from Salem State, and a master's degree from Lesley College.

Her husband George works at the Analogic Corp. and they have two daughters -- one is a junior at Penn State and the other is a senior at Lynnfield High.

In her spare time, Orphanos said, she paints (oil and watercolor portraits) and started taking pottery classes a couple years ago. She's also become the point person for costumes in Lynnfield High productions, but probably won't have time for that one anymore, she said, laughing.