A Decade of Public Service

2025 Appointed to serve as Chair of the Massachusetts Municipal Association Women’s Elected Municipal Officials Steering Committee

2024 Appointed to the Massachusetts Municipal Association Women’s Elected Municipal Officials Steering Committee

2022 Elected to Sudbury Select Board, currently serving. Served as Vice-Chair from May 2023 to May 2024

2021 Elected vice-chair of the Commission on Disability

2020 Chair of the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Special Education Parent Advisory Council, currently serving as a member and no longer Chair

2018 Appointed to Sudbury’s Commission on Disability, served as Vice-Chair in 2021, resigned in 2022 after elected to the Select Board

2018 Elected Chair of the Sudbury School Committee

2018 Re-elected to Sudbury School Committee

2015 Elected to Sudbury School Committee

2012 Community Resources Awareness Network (CRANE)

2012 Sudbury Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)

Public Service Experience

Read all about my public service experience below or select a link and click to go to the area that interests you:

• Select Board Accomplishments

• Sudbury School Committee

• Commission on Disability

• Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Special Education Parent Advisory Council (LSSEPAC)

• Civics and Community Engagement

• Professional Experience as an Attorney

During my first term on the Select Board Sudbury made enormous strides forward. I’m proud of my contributions to the progress we have made enhancing quality of life, financial management, and Town services. 

Below is a list of just some of the initiatives I supported and accomplishments during my first term.

• Hired and onboarded our experienced and dedicated Town Manager, Andy Sheehan, who has built a top-notch team to serve Sudbury. 

• As Vice-Chair, conducted a highly successful town forum “Residents Shaping Sudbury’s Future.”

• Named Chair of the Mass Municipal Association’s Women Elected Municipal Officials Committee. 

• Consistently advocated to enhance sustainability efforts including the hiring of a Sustainability Coordinator, support of the Specialized Stretch Code, and the installation of solar panels and EV charging stations throughout Sudbury.

• Championed ongoing efforts to get Sudbury back into a vocational education school district. 

• Advocated on behalf of the Select Board for a successful article at 2023 Town Meeting regarding enhanced audio-visual equipment for the Fairbank Community Center.

• Co-led the policy subcommittee’s efforts to update and modernize all of its policies, and present them transparently to the community. It’s not glamorous work, but it’s a top responsibility for the Select Board!

• Advocated for greater focus on economic development, which became a high-priority Select Board goal. 

• Supported the allocation of ARPA funds for the Fairbank Community Center, Fire Station #2, public safety equipment, public health services, and more. 

• Supported efforts to complete construction of the Fairbank Community Center and Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. Let’s finish the trail and make the connection to Framingham! 

• Advocated for investments in accessibility at Camp Sewataro, which have expanded access to this beautiful asset to more residents. 

• Supported a Proclamation recognizing June as LGBTQ+ and Pride Month.

• Supported the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Anti-Semitism.

• Supported the funding of Transportation initiatives to improve access to transportation

Serving 6 years on the Sudbury School Committee afforded me an intimate understanding of the schools. This is particularly important as education makes up a significant portion of the Town’s total budget. 

I am also intimately familiar with the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional Agreement. This knowledge will be very useful to the Select Board as it works to update the agreement in a mutually beneficial manner with the town of Lincoln. 

My experience will bridge the gap between the schools and the broader Sudbury community.

• I procured professional development for the School Committee regarding the roles and responsibilities of the Committee. This professional development also allowed the School Committee to better understand its relationship with the Superintendent and the Administration. Since the professional development was conducted during open meeting, the community also benefited from this professional development.

• Although the School Committee had existing norms and protocols regarding expectations and conduct of members during meetings, I instituted a practice of reviewing and re-affirming commitment to these norms and protocols yearly. I also provided the Committee with professional development concerning the necessity and importance of such norms and protocols. Since the professional development was again conducted during open meeting, the community also benefited from this professional development.

• I enacted the “Subcommittee Template” practice whereby the School Committee documents the roles and responsibilities of Subcommittees. Doing so improved the work product and functionality of Subcommittees.

• The adoption of the new District Policy Manual utilizing gender neutral language improved transparency and functionality of Sudbury Public Schools as a whole.

• The adoption of the School Committee Handbook specified School Committee practices and processes in a transparent manner. This Handbook also supports the consistent practices of the School Committee.

• I implemented the School Committee’s practice of the adoption of SMART goals on a yearly basis. The Committee’s adoption of SMART goals helped the Committee to focus on its roles and responsibility in a transparent manner.

• I established an annual self-assessment practice for the School Committee.

• I worked closely with the Superintendent to streamline the Committee’s Agenda management which focused the Committee on its work and significantly shortened the duration of meetings.

• I worked to change the culture on the Committee by implementing multiple approaches to foster an atmosphere of respect, collaboration and professionalism.

• I collaborated with the Administration regarding the budget.  We began a regular practice of reviewing the MUNIS reports, which detail all aspects of the district budget, line by line.

• I improved communication with the school community through the development of a bi-annual newsletter, School Committee At-A-Glance which fostered transparency regarding the School Committee’s work.

Accomplishments on the Sudbury School Committee

• Developed a new logo for Sudbury Public Schools

• Promoted equity work for the District

• Supported the development of the District Strategic Plan, which links goals and objectives to the District Budget

• Broadened the District calendar to recognize different holidays to increase cultural awareness in the community

• Advocated for a new math curriculum that has been consistently and equitably implemented across all grade levels.

• Advocated for an Acceleration Policy for Sudbury Public Schools to meet the needs of advanced learning students. Now middle school students who qualify can take high school level math at Curtis Middle School.

• Advocated for the development of appropriate in-district programs to meet the needs of students. While meeting the needs of students, these in-district programs drove down costs by preventing out-of-district placements.

• Managed the largest portion of the Town of Sudbury budget with a focus on advancing quality of education while prioritizing budget sustainability and fiscally appropriate budget practices. Supported the Administration’s efforts to maintain a three-year level budget process which allows for appropriate planning and budget maintenance. Supported the Administration’s development of a Sudbury Public Schools Budget Book and consistent Budget practice that promotes transparency and prevents surprise expenses.

Building an inclusive Sudbury that supports All residents is a priority. With the finalization of the Americans with Disabilities Act Self Evaluation and Transition Plan, the experience and knowledge I acquired while on the Commission on Disability continues to be an asset to the Select Board and the community. 

In August 2020, I became the Chair of the LSSEPAC. SEPACs are a legally mandated organization pursuant to Mass. Gen. L. ch. 71B; 603 CMR 28:07(4). The main purpose and function of these organizations is to collaborate with the administration regarding special education programs and to report to the School Committee regarding special education programs. The LSSEPAC also supports students and families by providing educational workshops and speakers. Although I am no longer the Chair of the LSSEPAC, I continue to support the organization as a parent and work collaboratively with the Administration.

During my first term I put a strong focus on engaging Sudbury residents on Town issues. That was the theme of the Town Forum I hosted as Vice Chair, and it permeates my sense of service as your representative on the Select Board. 

I am also an avid supporter of Civics education. As a Select Board member, I have served as a judge for the Curtis Middle School CAP (Civic Action Projects) Showcase. I have also participated in the Massachusetts Girls State program sponsored by the American Legion at Stonehill College. 

If re-elected I will continue to promote civic engagement for all residents and create spaces for all voices to be heard. 

As an attorney, my education, training and experience is an invaluable asset to the Select Board. This experience distinguishes me from the other current sitting Select Board members.

I practiced both Plaintiffs and Defendants civil litigation from 1996 to 2004. My primary areas of practice included products liability, medical malpractice, personal injury and construction. I developed strong organizational and analytical skills managing a significant number of cases. My diverse background in handling different types of cases allows me to assist the Select Board in analyzing complex issues. If re-elected, I will continue to use my oral advocacy skills to advance the interests of the Town and provide the competent and well-versed leadership our community needs and deserves on the Select Board.