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4 Decades of Commitment: Community, Public Service and Education

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You can think of the School Committee as having two roles. First, as the board of directors of a quarter-billion-dollar enterprise (more than half of the City budget!), they have statutory roles in setting policy, negotiating union contracts, preparing budgets, and supervising the Superintendent. The Newton Public Schools cannot carry out effective education policies that support our children’s needs without good governance and leadership from the School Committee. Second, as elected officials, they should be responsive, accountable, and open to the community at large and the variety of constituencies within it.

Newton’s children and their families depend on the schools for a great education. But everyone in Newton depends on an excellent school system for the city to be attractive and prosperous. Property values, for example, are directly linked to the reputation of our schools. 

The schools will need increased funding in the coming years. We need to maintain everyone’s confidence in the Newton Public Schools to ensure support for those funding decisions.

I have decades of experience leading large complex organizations in both the public and private sectors, including years of collective bargaining experience. I also have extensive Board and governance experience with a variety of non-profit and corporate organizations.  Finally, I have been involved in Newton’s civic life in different ways since we first moved here.  ​

My professional experiences include:

  • Lax Sebenius, LLC, Negotiation advice and training to corporations throughout the world (Present)

  • CEO, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (2002-2011)

  • Executive Dean for Administration, Harvard Medical School (1998-2002)

  • Adjunct Professor of Environmental Policy, MIT (1992-1998)

  • Executive Director, MWRA, responsible for Boston Harbor Cleanup (1987-1992)

  • Chairman, MA Department of Public Utilities under Governor Michael Dukakis (1983-1987)

  • Senior Consultant, Economics and Technology, Inc., Telecommunications regulatory consulting (1981-1983) 

  • Director, Arkansas Department of Energy under Governor Bill Clinton (1979-1981)

 

My board experiences include:

  • 2Life Communities Board of Directors (low-income senior housing in Newton, Boston, Framingham, and Brookline)

  • ISO-New England Board of Directors (supervision of the regional electric power grid and the wholesale power market)

  • MIT Corporation (the governing body of MIT)

  • Legal Sea Foods Board of Managers

  • Celebrity Series of Boston Board of Trustees

 

My community experiences include:

  • Newton Girls Soccer, President, Coach, and Referee for over 30 years. 

  • Chair, Newton Blue Ribbon Commission 2006-2007, advising the Mayor, City Council, and public on the City’s future financial situation.

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