Dr. Michael F. Fitzpatrick '70: Celebrating a Legacy as Blackstone Valley Superintendent Ahead of Retirement

Westfield State Alumnus, Dr. Michael F. Fitzpatrick, '70, is set to retire as superintendent of Blackstone Valley at the end of this academic year. If the name sounds familiar, that is because Dr. Fitzpatrick was also recognized at Westfield State on October 18th, at the 185 Blue Diamond Ball, earning an alumni award, the highest award the Alumni Association gives out, for Excellence in Education. Dr. Fitzpatrick has culminated in an impressive career and has been recognized nationally as an impactful leader of vocational-technical education. Dr. Fitzpatrick has been breaking ground in education for more than three decades. He is the only superintendent in Massachusetts to have served as the president of the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS),  the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) as part of the executive and Governing Boards, and as chairman of the New England School Development Council. These are just some of the associations Dr. Fitzpatrick has been part of, also earning Massachusetts Superintendent of the Year in the year 2011, by MASS and AASA. 

Dr. Fitzpatrick returned to Westfield State a few times, where he was director of statewide curriculum projects at Westfield State for three years. He also served at a statewide conference as the coordinator for vocational-technical leadership personnel at Westfield State and Fitchburg State for 13 years. When discussing his "Bittersweet" decision to retire, Fitzpatrick said, "The decision to retire has been made collaboratively with our district school committee and with forward-thinking and advanced planning with our leadership team for continued success." He is always focused on improving the community he has served for so long. 

We wish you a wonderful retirement, Dr. Fitzpatrick, and would like to thank you once more for the honor it was to award you the Excellence in Education award! 

Click the link here to read more about Dr. Fitzpatrick.