Ms. Mohamed joins fellow Newton residents Matt Hills and Martin West
On Wednesday, July 27, Governor Baker appointed Newton resident Farzana Mohamed to a 5-year term on the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). Tricia Canavan of Springfield, MA was also appointed.
“Both Ms. Canavan and Ms. Mohamed bring a unique combination of management expertise and experience in the education sector that will benefit the Commonwealth’s schools and the students they serve,” Baker said in an announcement of their appointments. “We are grateful for their commitment to help create strong educational starts for children and families in schools throughout Massachusetts.”
Ms. Mohamed joins fellow Newton residents Matt Hills and Dr. Martin West on the 11-member Board. BESE is the oversight body for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. One of its responsibilities is to approve learning plans, including the decision to permit local districts to elect remote learning during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2021, following the failure of many local districts, including Newton, to return to the classroom full time, BESE voted 8-3 to mandate a return to school statewide. Both Mr. Hills and Dr. West were among the 8 votes in favor. Notably, many Newton physicians advocated to BESE for this change and were instrumental in its passage.
Ms. Mohamed’s professional background is strategy consulting, and it remains to be seen how she will apply her experience to the unforeseen challenges BESE will face over the coming years, as well as the upcoming change in Governor and the expiry of DESE Commissioner Jeffrey Riley’s current term.
The next BESE meeting will be Monday, August 15 and will be available to view via livestream.