School Council Elections

I bring the perspectives of a person who grew up in and attended Cambridge Public Schools, the sole parent of a child with an IEP who attended two Cambridge Public Elementary Schools, an attorney, and someone who works in the early childhood education field supporting low income families in Cambridge as the Director of the Cambridge (and Somerville) Head Start programs.

Why do you want to be on the RAUC School Council?

I am very interested in the social, emotional, and mental health of middle school students and how RAUC can learn from and implement strategies found in other school settings that build on a community mindset for all students, to increase engagement in learning, decrease conflicts, promote prosocial skills, build empathy and self-esteem and create a genuine sense of belonging for each student. I am also interested in addressing systemic equity issues and using an outside-the-box mindset to address mental health in middle schoolers.

I am an educator, parent, and bridge builder with more than fifteen years of experience teaching English and designing interdisciplinary, equity-centered learning. I have led interfaith and peace education initiatives that brought Jewish and Arab students together, focusing on dialogue, empathy, and shared problem solving. I collaborate easily with teachers and families, and I have served on boards in the past, which taught me how to balance community voice with clear priorities and follow-through.

On the RAUC School Council, I would bring strengths in curriculum design, community dialogue, and inclusive family engagement. My goal is to help ensure every student feels seen, challenged, and supported, and that decisions reflect both data and lived experience. My family is new to Cambridge and my daughter is a new RAUC student, so I am especially motivated to work with fellow parents, educators, and administrators to build friendships and meaningful connections while contributing my skills to the work ahead.

Why do you want to be on the RAUC School Council?

I am interested in serving on the RAUC School Council because I see it as a meaningful way to contribute my background as both an educator and a parent. I have served on boards before and know the value of bringing diverse voices together to support a shared vision. I care deeply about schools as places where students not only learn but also feel a strong sense of belonging, and I am eager to take part in conversations that help shape that environment at RAUC.

As a parent who is still getting to know the school community, my main goal is to listen, learn, and help build connections. I am very much a doer and an organizer-I believe in turning ideas into action and in making sure that discussions lead to concrete steps forward. While I do not yet know all the issues that will need to be prioritized, I want to help create space for honest dialogue and to ensure that decisions reflect the needs of students, families, and staff. I am committed to contributing my perspective, supporting follow-through, and helping strengthen the community we share.

Read the transcription of the video in English, Amharic, and Spanish.