Pacifico-DeBenedictis named ‘Wise Women’

Vittoria Pacifico-DeBenedictis, president of Bay View Academy, was selected as one of the 2015 Three Wise Women by the National Organization of Italian Women. Pacifico-DeBenedictis was born in Avellino, Italy, and she moved to Massachusetts when she was 7. She has had a longstanding career in Catholic education, beginning as a middle school teacher in South Boston. She soon moved from teaching to administration, where she held several leadership roles in Catholic schools around Massachusetts. Pacifico-DeBenedictis is involved with NEASC, serving as a chairperson, commission member and speaker. She holds a master’s degree in school administration from Emmanuel College and she is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where she is pursuing her degree in leadership in urban education. Pacifico-DeBenedictis will be honored on Jan. 27, during the organization’s Rhode Island Epiphany Celebration.

PBN: What drew you to leading institutions that provide an all-girls, Catholic education in particular?
PACIFICO-DEBENEDICTIS: I was all-girls, Catholic educated from elementary through graduate school. My family emigrated from Italy when I was young and my parents felt strongly about single-gender education for both my brother and I. It shaped our lives. Now my brother is a cardiologist and I am president of Bay View, where we empower girls and young women to be independent, compassionate and socially conscious so that they have the values, skills, confidence and imagination to make positive contributions to society.

PBN: What are some coveted traits of principals and other high-level administration positions?
PACIFICO-DEBENEDICTIS: A person who qualifies for such positions would be an experienced, impactful educator with strong moral values and demonstrated success as an academic leader and manager. He/she would be a good listener who appreciates the input of others. I like to see someone with vision – someone who is forward thinking and willing to embrace change in order to implement best practices, advance the school and prepare students for the future.

PBN: Could you tell me more about Bay View Academy’s one-to-one iPad Computing Program?
PACIFICO-DEBENEDICTIS: With iPads, our teachers deliver academic content in new and engaging ways. Students in grades 6-12 all have iPads, loaded with subject-specific apps and, when applicable, digital textbooks. We maximize the potential of the one-to-one program with Apple TVs, which facilitate collaboration and enhance instruction. At once an iPad school and Google school, we utilize Google Drive and Gmail for file-sharing and communication. Our curriculum includes robotics and technology, beginning in our pre-kindergarten classrooms. Lower School students also use a variety of technology, including desktops, netbooks and iPads. •

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