Marblehead Principal, Beverly Resident Earns Top State Honor

MARBLEHEAD, MA — A Marblehead principal and Beverly resident will be recognized for his track record in positive behavior, promoting inclusivity and culture building with the 2022 Massachusetts School Administrators Association Principal of the Year Award.

Matthew Fox, who has been principal at Marblehead Veterans Middle School for the past 10 years, will be honored as part of the program that recognizes principals who "demonstrate exemplary skills in instructional leadership, supporting a safe learning environment and fostering a collaborative culture of shared decision-making among all members of their school community."

Fox came to Massachusetts from Colorado for a teaching position at North Reading High School. He was also an administrator in the Georgetown and Hamilton-Wenham districts before coming to Marblehead.

The 43rd annual Edmund K. Fanning Award goes to Fox for implementing a Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support program and taking steps to improve the building's culture. A respect, kindness, citizenship and responsibility program beginning in the cafeteria has been expanded to include the entire school.

He also oversaw a program to "train staff in an effort to lead and support students going through issues of gender and identity" and well as increased support for METCO students and families and social justice equity programs.

Fox is credited with focusing on the social and emotional needs of students and staff during the coronavirus health crisis through social media, video messages and surveys to help students feel connected to school even though they were engaging in remote learning.

The award will be presented at the annual Fanning Award at the MSAA's Summer Leadership Institute in Plymouth in July.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)