Colleagues,
A wonderful introduction of Blackstone Valley Tech’s new superintendent-director.
MAVA extends its best wishes to Anthony for many years of happiness and success.
David
Blackstone Valley Tech has first new superintendent in 31 years
Tom Benoit The Milford Daily News
- Blackstone Valley Tech has named Anthony Steele II as its next superintendent-director.
- Steele, currently principal, will replace retiring Superintendent-Director Michael Fitzpatrick on July 1.
- Steele has worked at Blackstone Valley Tech for more than two decades, starting as an English teacher in 1997.
- He plans to expand adult education programs and incorporate AI into the curriculum.
Blackstone Valley Tech has hired from within for its first new superintendent-director in more than 30 years.
Anthony Steele II, currently principal at the school — its full name is Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School — will be promoted to superintendent-director ahead of the 2025-26 school year, the school announced in a press release.
Steele replaces Superintendent-Director Michael Fitzpatrick, who is retiring after 31 years leading Blackstone Valley Tech.
Steele joined Blackstone Valley Tech in 1997 as an English teacher. He was promoted to assistant principal and director of curriculum in 2001, and later to his current role as assistant superintendent-director and principal in 2012.
“As a 22-year-old construction worker, I hung up my hard hat to try my hand at teaching English," Steele said in a prepared statement. "I never anticipated the numerous opportunities for professional growth beyond improving my classroom teaching."
Blackstone Valley Tech serves Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and Uxbridge.
New superintendent wants to expand adult ed program
Along with serving as assistant superintendent and principal, Steele has also served on various state committees, including the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators and the Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators Association.
Steele said in the press release that he already has plans for the school. Among them is establishing a grant-funded Blackstone Valley Tech Institute, which will expand the school’s adult Moonlight Program to implement 200-hour credential-based programs. Other plans include implementing artificial intelligence (AI) across the curriculum and maximize the benefits of the skills-based hiring movement.
Steele will start his new position on July 1, the start of the 2025-26 fiscal year.
“I am eager to provide the unique blend of administrative experience, historical perspective, local knowledge, leadership style and philosophy required of the next superintendent-director,” Steele said in release. "I am honored to serve my school in this new role, and I am very excited about our future." Fitzpatrick joined Blackstone Valley Tech in 1994, after serving as assistant superintendent at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical School District in Palmer.
Chapter 74 Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education
LEARNING THAT WORKS FOR MASSACHUSETTS
David J. Ferreira
MAVA Communications Coordinator
DavidFerreira