Boston, MA, September 20, 2023 —Teach Plus, the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education (MBAE), and the Student Pathways to Success Coalition have selected five educators from across the Commonwealth as 2023-2024 Massachusetts Mobilizers. During the 12-month program, these educators will work on advocating for state policies that expand access to economic opportunity and promote a more equitable Commonwealth by creating stronger connections between what students are learning in high school and the opportunities that await them when they graduate. The five educators are all alumni of the Teach Plus Policy Fellowship, through which teachers are trained in policy, advocacy, research, and communications and develop the skills necessary to advocate for changes for Massachusetts’ students.
The five Teach Plus Massachusetts Mobilizers will focus on expanding high school student access to opportunities to earn college credit and industry-recognized credentials, career counseling, and work-based learning. As experienced education advocates, they will also work to educate their colleagues on the state’s current opportunity to scale successful pathway programs like Early College and Career & Technical Education by publishing op-eds, engaging in social media, and leading webinars for educators statewide.
“The teacher perspective is crucial to developing strong and effective state education policies that lead to better outcomes for students. We’re thrilled to partner with Teach Plus and to learn from the Fellows about what is and isn’t working in their classrooms and schools. Their input will greatly strengthen and validate our work to put all students on pathways to college and career success,” said Ed Lambert, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education.
“We are excited about this opportunity for our alumni to apply their advocacy skills to the work of Student Pathways to Success with its significant impact on life outcomes for students. Teach Plus and Teach Plus teacher leaders are looking forward to partnering with the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education as we work to ensure all students in Massachusetts are prepared for postsecondary success,” said Christopher Marino, Executive Director of Teach Plus Massachusetts.
“I am excited to be working with Teach Plus and MBAE on the Student Pathways to Success Coalition. It is imperative that we support all of our students with routes to careers or college. I believe that our work will help provide access to the needed 21st century skills to students across the Commonwealth for them to be successful,” said Michael Coughlin, a middle school science teacher at Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School in Somerville and 2023-2024 Teach Plus Massachusetts Mobilizer.
The 2023-2024 Teach Plus Massachusetts Mobilizers are:
- Michael Coughlin, Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School, Somerville Public Schools
- Catherine Djerbaka, Nissitissit Middle School, North Middlesex School District
- Annmarie Fransen, Milford High School, Milford Township High School District 233
- April Brunelle, TechBoston Academy, Boston Public Schools
- Shirley Jones-Luke, BCLA-McCormack Pilot School, Boston Public Schools
About Student Pathways to Success Coalition
The Student Pathways to Success coalition is a cross-sector partnership of organizations committed to educational equity that represents students, parents, educators, and employers. It aims to universalize access to a meaningful and relevant high school education for all students that puts them on a pathway to college and career success.
About Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education
The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that, together with our members, promotes and supports continuous improvement in our schools and innovation that is needed to ensure that EVERY student receives a high-quality education that prepares them for success in college, career, and citizenship.
About Teach Plus
Teach Plus is dedicated to the mission of empowering excellent, experienced, and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that advance equity, opportunity, and student success. In pursuing our mission, Teach Plus is guided by our Student Opportunity Mandate: All students should have the opportunity to achieve their potential in an education system defined by its commitment to equity, its responsiveness to individual needs, and its ability to prepare students for postsecondary success. Since 2009, Teach Plus has developed thousands of teacher leaders across the country to exercise their leadership in shaping education policy and improving teaching and learning for students. teachplus.org/ma
For more information and to arrange interviews, contact Kelly Pearce.
