City Government
Peabody School Committee & Superintendent
The Superintendent
Dr. Josh Vadala
Dr. Josh Vadala is the Superintendent of the Peabody Public Schools, the district’s top administrator, running a system of roughly 5,600 students across 11 schools that climbs from its elementary schools through the J. Henry Higgins Middle School and Peabody Veterans Memorial High School. He does not answer to the Mayor. The Superintendent is hired by, and reports to, the School Committee.
| Role | Superintendent of Schools |
|---|---|
| District office | 27 Lowell Street, Peabody, MA 01960 |
| Phone | 978-536-6500 |
| High school | Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, 485 Lowell Street |
| Website | peabody.k12.ma.us |
The School Committee
The Peabody School Committee has seven members: six elected by the whole city to staggered four-year terms, plus the Mayor, who chairs it automatically by virtue of the office. Together they set the rules for the district, adopt the school budget, and hire and grade the Superintendent.
Edward A. Bettencourt Jr.
Joseph Amico
Brandi Carpenter
John Olimpio
Beverley Griffin Dunne
Suzanne Cox
Pamela Milman
Membership reflects the November 2025 election; for the current roster and contacts, see peabody.k12.ma.us.
The District at a Glance
- Enrollment: about 5,600 students, from preschool through grade 12.
- Schools: 11 in all, anchored by the J. Henry Higgins Middle School and Peabody Veterans Memorial High School.
- Diversity: roughly 40% of students are students of color, and the number of multilingual learners keeps growing.
- State data: DESE profile (code 02290000).
Meetings & Participation
- When: twice a month, with agendas posted ahead of time on the city and district websites.
- Public comment: residents can speak to the Committee directly. Check the agenda for how to sign up.
- Watch: meetings air on Peabody Access Television (PATV) and stay online to watch later.
- Subcommittees: a lot of the real work gets done in smaller groups on finance, policy, and curriculum.
Sources
Peabody school committee (peabody.k12.ma.us). Verified July 2026.
What this seat decides
Your schools
School Committee. Start times, the school calendar, bus routes and stops, the phone policy, athletics and activity fees, and the policies in the student handbook. It sets district policy, and the total size of the school budget is voted by the City Council.
Your principal and your superintendent. The principal for how a school rule works day to day in your building. The superintendent for how the whole district runs. The School Committee selects the superintendent, and the superintendent appoints the principals, so a question about any other staff member goes to the district, not to the board.
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