School Committee Vice Chairperson Spadafora resigns leadership role

Special to the Advocate

Malden School Committee member Jennifer Spadafora announced via social media last week she was resigning from her leadership role as Vice Chairperson.

First elected to represent Ward 3 in 2017, Spadafora was reelected to a fifth consecutive term this past November 2025. On Inauguration Night in January, she was also reelected as Vice Chair, for the third consecutive term, having served in that role in 2022-23 and 2024-25. In Malden’s city government, the Mayor serves a dual role as Chairperson of the School Committee.

In addition to representing Ward 3 on the School Committee and serving as Vice Chair, Spadafora also served as Chairperson of the two most important subcommittees: the Finance Committee, which reviews and formulates the budget, and the Negotiations Committee.

Following is the text of now former Vice Chair Spadafora’s announcement of stepping down from the leadership post this past Thursday, March 5:

Dear Malden Public School Families and Friends,

I am writing to share that I have decided to step down as Vice Chair of the Malden School Committee. Serving in this role has been a true honor, and I am proud of the progress we have made together to support our students, schools and community.

Since being elected Vice Chair in 2022, I have been privileged to work alongside dedicated colleagues, staff and community members to address the needs of our schools and provide the best possible opportunities for our students. This decision was not made lightly, as I remain deeply committed to the mission of the Committee and the success of all our students.

I will continue to serve the residents of Ward 3 and the Chair will provide guidance regarding the process of selecting the next Vice Chair.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the families, friends, staff, and community partners who have supported me in this role. It has been an honor to serve, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to the success and growth of the Malden Public Schools.