Dear Malden Public Schools Community,

I hope that our students, families, staff, and community members are having a safe and enjoyable summer. I am writing to share some important updates from the Malden Public Schools regarding six hires we have made to fill key positions in our district.

Below you will find some more information about each of these six educational leaders:

Marie Lucey, Assistant Director of Human Resources
Marie will be entering her 23rd year with the Malden Public Schools. Marie began her career in the technology department for the Malden Public School District while also teaching computer night classes for adults at Malden High School. While in the technology department, Marie provided support and training for Malden Public Schools staff on how to use the newly implemented student information system.

In 2004, Marie became a part of the Superintendent’s Office as Confidential Executive Assistant for Human Resources. In this role, Marie has had the privilege of welcoming all new staff to the Malden Public Schools.  Marie is responsible for the Applicant Tracking System, onboarding of all new personnel, maintaining personnel files, staff databases, teaching certifications, coordinating the background check process, MPS transcripts, teacher salary reviews, staff attendance, DESE state reporting, and all HR functions.

Marie is looking forward to working closely with and supporting all staff and administration.

Tamara Lawrence, Early Childhood Administrator
Ms. Lawrence has served in education for the past 23 years, most recently as a special education program director at The English High School in Boston. Before that, she was an educational team facilitator/coordinator of special education and a teacher at the school. She was known for developing strong relationships with her school community, often arriving early and leaving late to make sure her students’ needs were met.

Ms. Lawrence also spent two years teaching math inclusion in Baltimore and four years as a paraprofessional at McKinley Vocational High School (now known as McKinley Preparatory High School) in Boston. She started her career as a teacher at Tuskegee Institute Middle School in Alabama.

Ms. Lawrence holds a master’s degree in special education from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree from Tuskegee University. We are truly excited to see the impact she will have on our Early Childhood programming here in Malden!

Jennifer McCabe, Director of English Language Learners & Title III Programs
With more than 20 years of experience in education, Ms. McCabe has focused her career on teaching, training, and coaching in the area of multilingual learners with disabilities. Here in MPS, she has served as an K-12 ESL instructional coach, EL director, special education teacher, and Sheltered English Immersion teacher.

Ms. McCabe holds a master’s degree in bilingual early childhood education, for students with and without disabilities, from Lesley University. She holds a certification for teaching WIDA English Language Development standards and provides consulting for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. She’s also the mother of three bicultural children.

This new role is a great fit for Ms. McCabe’s skills, talents, and passion. We are truly excited to move forward with her as our director of English language learners and Title III programs!

Emilys Peña, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assesment
Emilys Peña is originally from Puerto Rico. She moved to the United States at the age of seven. Ms. Peña is trilingual – tricultural. She is fluent in American Sign Language, English, and Spanish. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University with a dual concentration in elementary and Deaf education, and a Master’s degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education with a focus on language and literacy. She studied abroad in Argentina at the Universidad del Plata in Entre Ríos.

As an Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, she is committed to changing all forms of oppression including all the “isms” that isolate, disadvantage, and take away power from marginalized groups. As a district leader she will confront the unequal outcomes that result from culture-neutral policies that are not enough to level opportunities across racial, cultural, and linguistic groups.

Ms. Peña has worked for Boston Public Schools for 25 years and has K-12 experience working as a teacher, literacy specialist, director of instruction, assistant headmaster, district leader, and educational consultant. Her leadership experience spans over 15 years where she has shown her commitment to working with all children especially with marginalized populations—English Learners, special needs, alternative education, Deaf/Hard of Hearing and culturally and linguistically diverse students.

Laryssa Doherty, Assistant Superintendent of Diversity, Equity and Engagement
Ms. Doherty has been an educational leader focused on building collaborative, inclusive, and anti-racist school communities for over two decades. Her passion for public education is fueled by students and families, as well as the collective growth of schools striving to become high performing, welcoming, and culturally responsive organizations. She has served the students, families and educators predominantly in urban schools in New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts with the last 14 years in the Boston Public Schools. Her educational leadership has transformed school communities through strategic adult professional learning and growth, targeted student supports, and ensuring diverse perspectives in decision making. Ms. Doherty holds bachelors and masters degrees in education from Ithaca College, a masters degree in School Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and is a doctoral candidate in Education Leadership and Policy Studies at Boston University.

As you can see, we have five incredibly skilled and dedicated administrators joining MPS at this time.  Please join us in welcoming them to our school district community.

 

Sincerely,

Ligia Noriega-Murphy, Superintendent
Malden Public Schools