Our Steering Committee helps to propel Compact initiatives in the classroom and at the broader system level.
Dr. Gina Mathews is the Associate Superintendent of Academics and Instruction for the Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese of Boston. Dr. Mathews has extensive knowledge in the Catholic education world; she has over 20 years of experience in the classroom and more than 15 years of experience as an educational leader at Catholic schools in the Archdiocese.
Neil Sullivan is the Executive Director of the Boston Private Industry Council. The Boston PIC serves as the Boston Compact's fiscal sponsor.
Dr. Rebecca Grainger is Mayor Wu's Senior Advisor for Youth and Schools. Grainger served her first decade in education as department chair and high school science teacher at Sierra High School in Colorado Springs, CO. She is recognized as a Distinguished Educator and Hall of Fame Distinguished Alumna. As a Fellow at the Institute for Learning, University of Pittsburgh, Grainger served as a scholar practitioner bridging the divide between education research and the K-12 classroom. Through professional development, curriculum design, and partnering with researchers she pushed the boundaries between educator and student roles, asking learners to create the learning environment in partnership.
Grainger holds her doctorate in Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.) from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her capstone work in Somerville Public Schools centered on the use of data to interrogate policy and practice to strategically redesign inequitable systems with a focus on reimagining racial and ethnic categorization as a catalyst for larger systemic change. Prior to joining the Wu administration, Grainger led the instructional design for Black Futures Lab’s Black Policy Institute, a 30-week policy advocacy and leadership training fellowship designed to prepare selected Fellows to make legislative and policy interventions that advance Black political power, change the way power operates, and improve the lives of Black people.
For over 20 years Grainger has created learning spaces designed to interrogate systems which bolster racial inequities and our contributions to their continued propagation. She is driven by the belief that the role of educational spaces is not to save, but to act with intentionality to increase access to opportunity and provide space for informed choice.
Maya Getter is Senior Policy Advisor for Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
Dr. Ted Lombardi is the Secondary Superintendent for College, Career, and Life Readiness in the Boston Public Schools. Ted Lombardi joined BPS in January 2018 as an Operational Superintendent, spent two years as the Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools, and worked as a Secondary School Superintendent for the 2021-22 school year. Ted spent the first eleven years of his career in Lawrence at the Humanities and Leadership Development High School, where he was a founding teacher, assistant principal, and principal. In 2016, the school became the first ever level 1 high school in the history of the Lawrence Public Schools. Ted then became the principal of Malden High School, a school of over 1,700 students that consistently is among the leaders in Massachusetts in advanced coursework and early college programming.
Ted received his bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross, holds master’s degrees from Boston University and Salem State University, and received his Doctorate in Education from Northeastern University in June 2021.
Traci Walker Griffith is the proud Principal of the Eliot School, a Boston Public Innovation School serving amazing scholars in grades K0 through 8. Entering her 17th year as the Eliot School Principal, Traci has been a part of the Boston Public School system since 1982, serving as both a teacher and administrator. Under her leadership, the Eliot has become a supportive professional learning community that embraces high standards for both adults and students, progressing from a state-identified, under-performing school in 2007 to recognition as a Commendation School in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Traci’s dedication to “excellence for all” can be seen in all aspects of the Eliot School in opportunities created for both students and faculty. Fostering a life-long love of learning while supporting a students’ social and emotional growth has been a theme throughout Traci’s career, and can be seen whether she’s engaging with an Eliot scientist or teaching social development in a pick up soccer game.
Traci was awarded a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Educational Administration from the University of Massachusetts, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley University, and a Bachelor’s of Education in Elementary Education from Plymouth State University. She currently lives with her husband, John, in Charlestown, MA. Her two children, Joe and Elizabeth, are both former Eliot School students, currently studying at Boston Latin School.
Alexandra Buckmire is the Head of School at the Boston Renaissance Public Charter School.
Nicole Mack is the Executive Director of the Conservatory Lab Charter School and Co-Chair of the Boston Charter Alliance.
Dr. Caren Walker Gregory is a high-energy, dynamic, and visionary educator. She is driven by a strong vision of high academic achievement for a diverse student population, has exemplary leadership skills, and is committed to diversifying the healthcare workforce. Her leadership style is defined by integrity, transparent and open communication, fairness, high standards, and an understanding of the needs and interests of a diverse community. She is deeply committed to educating today’s youth.
Dr. Walker Gregory has thirty-four years of experience as a professional educator in the Boston Public Schools. This includes five years as a middle school science and math teacher under the leadership of Dr. Steven Leonard, three years as a Middle School Math/Science Curriculum Specialist under the leadership of Joseph Bage, three years as a Cluster Coordinator under the leadership of Michael Contompasis, and eight years in the role of Assistant Head of School of Health Careers Academy (HCa) under the leadership of Albert Holland. She’s in her sixteenth year at the Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers (EMK) Head School.
Dr. Walker Gregory is a product of the Boston Public Schools. She attended Ohrenberger Elementary and the Washington Irving Middle School and graduated from the Boston Latin School. She earned her undergraduate degree in Pre-Med and a Master’s degree in Education from UMass Amherst. In 2008, she received a Doctorate in Education from the Leadership in Urban Schools program at UMass Boston. Her dissertation was entitled: “Missing Persons: An Exploratory Study of Admission Practices for Black Applicants to the Boston Latin School.”
Dr. Helenann Civian is the principal of South Boston Catholic Academy. Prior to this, she served as principal of Cathedral High School for three years. Her career in education began in Cantonas a teacher and Math Director. She continued her work in Boston as an urban leader, focusing on equity and access for all students and families in both public and Catholic schools. Dr. Civian earned a Ph.D. in EducationalLeadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education, an M.Ed. in Planning and Social Policy from Bridgewater State University, an M.Ed. in Administration from American International College, and was a fellow in algebraic thinking, patterns, and functions at Rutgers University. Dr. Civian currently resides in Canton with her husband, Jamey, and loves spending time with her family.
Ali Dutson is the Principal of Mission Grammar School in Roxbury. She received her B.A. inElementary Education from Emmanuel College and her M.Ed. from Harvard GraduateSchool of Education with a focus on Innovation, Technology, and Education. Alibrings a love for learning, social justice, and educational leadership in Boston. She is a proud new mother and enjoys spending time with her family.
Mark Loring serves as Director of Network Operations at Brooke Charter Schools. Mr. Loring is currently serving as Chief Operating Officer for the network. Before joining Brooke, Mr. Loring worked in a variety of educational roles across the country, including as a 4th grade teacher in the Louisiana Delta, a home school teacher in Redmond, WA, and as a Director of Operations in Lawrence, MA.
Kate Scott is the Executive Director of the Neighborhood House Charter School (NHCS) where she has worked in various capacities for over 20 years. In her previous position as Assistant Headmaster, Kate oversaw the academic program for NHCS. She has also served as a 4th grade teacher, 8th grade math teacher, and as Dean of the Middle School. She started her career with Teach for America as a fourth grade teacher in Long Beach, California. Kate holds a BA from Wellesley College and an EdM from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Lisa Warshafsky (Principal, SaintJohn Paul II Catholic Academy, Lower Mills) has worked in urban education for more than 20 years. She is passionate about inner-city education and supporting students in reaching their full potential in the presence of our loving God. Prior to becoming Principal, Lisa was a Guidance Counselor and Director of Guidance for Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy. Lisa earned a MSW and completed coursework towards a Master of Education in School Leadership at Boston College. A graduate of the Lynch Leadership Academy, she received the 2011 Yawkey Award for Teaching Excellence, the Boston Family Engagement Partnership (BFEP) Fellowship, and the 2017 Today's CatholicTeacher-Innovations in Catholic Education (ICE) Award for Total Community Involvement. Lisa is the proud mother of a 12-year-old daughter and loves spending time with her.
Kevin Andrews (Special Advisor) was one of the Compact’s founding co-chairs and serves as Senior Advisor to the Boston Charter Alliance. He was founding headmaster of Neighborhood House Charter School (NHCS), which opened in 1995 as a full-service school. Kevin is also co-founder of the Project for School Innovation, a pilot of NHCS to transform education by empowering public school educators to share their successes and drive school change. Kevin has been an educator for 40 years, during which time he has taught the gamut from early childhood to the post-graduate level. His leadership roles have included president of the Brookline Educators Association, principal of a Newton K-6 school, and principal of a Brookline K-8school. Kevin holds a B.A. in Education from the University of Massachusetts and an M.Ed. from Antioch College
Lindsa McIntyre servesas High School Superintendent of Boston Public Schools. “Dr. Mac” began her teaching career at the Jeremiah Burke High School in the center of the“Circle of Promise” neighborhood of Roxbury and Dorchester. Under her leadership and through a commitment to social justice, equity, and access to quality education for all students, the Burke became the first high school in Massachusetts to exit Turnaround status in 2014. Her experience includes work in alternative education as the founding leader of Boston Day Academy. She recently completed her Ed.D. at Boston College and resides in Dorchester.
Rachel Weinstein is the Chief Collaboration Officer for the Boston Compact. Rachel has supported numerous multi-stakeholder efforts focused on improving outcomes for historically underserved populations. In addition to the Compact, her clients have included four public health departments collaborating to share services, numerous philanthropic initiatives, and a cross-sector network focused on strengthening STEM education. Rachel serves on the School Committee of the Cambridge Public Schools, where she is also a parent and a graduate. Previously, Rachel served as District Director for the state Senate President in Oakland, California. Rachel graduated from Brown University, where she majored in American Civilization with a focus on Urban Education.