Robert Cancellieri of Dawe Elementary School Named MSAA Elementary School Principal of the Year

Mr. Robert C. Cancellieri, Principal of Joseph R. Dawe, Jr. Elementary School in Stoughton, has been named the 2025 MSAA Elementary School Principal of the Year. He has served at Dawe Elementary School for the past 8 years.

Robert earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (Commonwealth Honors College), a Master of Education in Elementary Education from the University of Massachusetts Boston, and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Administration from UMass Boston. While teaching at J.H. Gibbons Elementary School, Robert was recognized as Teacher of the Year. During his time at Dawe Elementary School, he was an Honor Roll recipient of the National LifeChanger of the Year Award.

Prior to his current role as Principal, Robert was a fifth-grade teacher at J.H. Gibbons Elementary School in Stoughton for six years. In his final year there, he also served as Assistant Principal. Additionally, he was the Director of Camp West Woods in Stoughton, developed and led the 5th-to-6th Grade STEM Summer Program in Stoughton Public Schools, and, since becoming Principal at Dawe Elementary School, has spearheaded numerous initiatives to support the special education population, celebrate the diversity of his school community, and enhance professional development for his staff. He has even incorporated fun into fundraising activities - he camped on the front lawn of his school, put his office on the roof of the building, got pied in the face, and even kissed a pig!

Robert grew up in Stoughton and attended Stoughton Public Schools from kindergarten through his graduation from Stoughton High School in 2004. Since then, he has remained an active community member, coaching Stoughton Little League Baseball, Stoughton Youth Soccer, YMCA Basketball, and Stoughton Youth Flag Football. He takes great pride in his community and firmly believes that Stoughton Public Schools provide a fantastic environment for students to learn and thrive.

Robert and his family live in Stoughton, where both of his children attend Stoughton Public Schools. His wife, Vanessa, also a lifelong Stoughton resident and Stoughton High School graduate, is a special education teacher at an elementary school in Stoughton.