Caeli Gallitano
Caeli Gallitano, MSW, LCSW
Director of Equity & Excellence for the Somerville Public School District.
Caeli grew up in Sudbury, MA and attended THE Ohio State University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, with a minor in Sociology, and was the recipient of the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Social Work. After attending Ohio State, Caeli worked for Franklin County Children’s Services (FCCS) as a caseworker in the ongoing unit. After some years at FCCS, Caeli returned to the Boston area and entered the Boston Public School (BPS) System as a counselor at Tech Boston Academy in Dorchester during the 2009/10 school year. After completing her Master’s Degree in Social Work, with a graduate certificate in Organizational Leadership from Wheelock College, Caeli continued her counseling and clinical work in BPS at the Dearborn School and later at Boston Community Leadership Academy.
In 2016, Caeli joined the Somerville Public Schools (SPS) as a clinician in a therapeutic inclusion program at a K-8 school, and later held an administrative position as the Director of a substantially separate therapeutic program for grades 1-6 in SPS. In 2022, Caeli earned a Graduate Certificate in Education Law from the University of Connecticut. Caeli is currently the Director of Equity & Excellence in SPS. She is the Membership Chair for AMSEL (Association of Massachusetts School Equity Leaders). Caeli has presented at the Massachusetts National Association of Social Workers’ Conference in October of 2023 on how to close persistent gaps in education through utilizing data, restorative justice practices, and through cross-culturally collaborative and culturally responsive instruction.
For Caeli, equity is an action; it is not a job, or position, it is who she is. Equity is woven into the fabric of her being. She is driven by optimism and her belief in the oneness of humanity and the belief that every child can learn and should be provided the support and tools to feel that they belong, and feel seen, heard, and valued.