Welcome to Consentino!

Dear Charger Nation,

Over the past several years the Consentino community has embraced change and has seen significant improvement in not only the educational experience of students but also the social-emotional support and enrichment opportunities available. We are thrilled to continue that work and push the envelope even further to build the learning. community our students and families deserve!

Our experienced and dedicated staff is committed to ensuring that all students are provided with the support and encouragement needed to reach their full potential while partnering with our families to build strong and collaborative home/school partnerships.

As a community, we have much to be proud of and a lot to be excited about. This school year, in particular, will be especially interesting as we continue to watch our new home take shape behind our existing building.

We are thankful that you continue to put your trust in our community to educate your students and for partnering with us to unlock that potential.

If you ever have any questions or concerns, please know that we are only a call or email away. Our Leadership Team prides itself in our responsiveness to families, so please do not hesitate. The email addresses for every staff member of Consentino can be found by navigating to the “About Us” tab and selecting “Our Team”.

In addition to all the exciting things happening in our community ranging from the continued construction of our new school to our implementation of the community schools model, this will also be the final year of service for Mr. Mele. Following this school year, Mr. Mele is set to retire after more than 30 years in public education in Larence and Haverhill. We will certainly miss but we know he’ll be around!

As always, I thank you for your support and partnership. We can’t wait to see what the 2024-2025 Academic Year has in store!

Take care!

Rich

Richard J. Poor, Ed.D.

Principal

Consentino Middle School Leadership Team

Dr. Richard Poor, Principal

Born and raised in Haverhill, Richard is a graduate of Haverhill High School and a United States Army veteran. Following military service, he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Framingham State University before working as an ESP at J.G. Whittier Middle School in Haverhill. After finishing his Masters’s Degree, Richard worked at Mystic Valley Regional Charter School in Malden before teaching middle school social studies at the UP Academy Leonard Middle School in Lawrence, MA, for several years. Richard returned to Haverhill in 2017 as Consentino’s Assistant Principal. In 2020, long-time Principal John Mele and Richard swapped roles, with Richard becoming Principal for the 2020-2021 School Year.

Richard holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Framingham State University, a Master of Education Degree in Secondary Education from Endicott College, a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in School Leadership from American International College, and a Doctor of Education Degree in Leadership in Schooling from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Richard’s dissertation research focused on the successful implementation of positive behavior systems in urban middle schools.

Richard is currently working toward an Executive Master in Public Administration Degree at the University of New Hampshire.

 

John Mele, Assistant Principal

A resident of Haverhill for more than 30 years, John came to Haverhill first as an Assistant Principal at the Tilton School before coming to Consentino as an Assistant Principal. Following service as Assistant Principal, John served as Principal of Consentino for six years before stepping back into the Assistant Principal role.

John came to Haverhill Public Schools after serving as an Assistant Principal in Leominster, previous to which he taught middle school English in Lawrence for more than a decade. An avid sports fan, John never misses a game and can often be seen giving passionate pep talks to our Charger athletes from the sidelines. A proud member of the Haverhill community, both of John’s adult daughters are graduates of Haverhill High School.

John holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Education from Merrimack College and a Master of Arts Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a Concentration in English Learner Education from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

John is recently a new grandfather and is set to retire at the end of the 2024-2025 School Year after more than 30 years in public education.

 

Amy Maldonado, Assistant Principal

Born and raised in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Amy joined the Consentino team as an Assistant Principal for the 2021-2022 School Year.

Prior to her tenure at Consentino, Amy spent nearly a decade teaching in the Lawrence Public Schools as an English Language Development Teacher at both the elementary and middle school levels. Amy brings a wealth of experience to the team in working in urban turnaround environments which rely heavily on strong operational systems, strong tier 1 instructional strategies, and systemic family and student engagement.

Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts and English from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and a Master of Education Degree in TESOL, ESL, and Bilingual Education from Lesley University.

Jenniffer Cabrera-Vicente, Community Schools Coordinator

Originally from Dominican Republic, Jenniffer immigrated to Haverhill in 2003, where she attended Bradford Elementary and Hunking Middle School before graduating from Haverhill High School in 2010.

She continued her academic journey at The University of Massachusetts-Lowell, graduating with a dual Bachelor’s Degree in History and Psychology. During this period, she served as the Mayor’s Constituent Services Representative, igniting her passion for community service. Engaging closely with various community entities such as the Latino Coalition of Haverhill, Community Action Inc., YMCA, and Haverhill Housing Authority, she developed a strong commitment to community welfare. Jenniffer helped organize and coordinate community events covering a variety of topics such as health care, voting, education, and city improvement plans.

In 2020, Jenniffer felt compelled to return to Haverhill High School and contribute to the community that had supported her. She commenced her tenure at Haverhill Public Schools as a Bilingual Parent Liaison, later transitioning into the role of Student Support Coordinator. She established and oversaw the RISE after-school program at Haverhill High School. This initiative aimed to empower multilingual and newly immigrant students and their families, facilitating their seamless integration into American society, educational institutions, and the workforce. During this period, Jenniffer was appointed and served in the Youth Activity and Mental Health Committee, where she assessed and provided recommendations for the approval of grant applications from various candidates and nonprofits offering youth-centered programs.

Continuing her dedication to student, family, and community support, Jenniffer re-enrolled at The University of Massachusetts-Lowell in 2021 to pursue a Master’s Degree in Community Social Psychology. Her research focused on the Dual Capacity Building Framework and the Equitable Learning Environment Theory, emphasizing the critical need for collaborative efforts among families, schools, and the broader community. In May 2023, Jenniffer successfully attained her master’s degree and plans to continue her education to better serve students, families, and the Haverhill community.