Susan Senator

This is a press release about my very close friend, Ruth Kaplan. I could not be more proud, and more optimistic now about education in Massachusetts!!!

Governor Makes Quality Appointment to Board of Education

Citizens for Public Schools would like to extend our congratulations and support to Governor Deval Patrick for his first appointment to the Massachusetts State Board of Education. He has chosen Ruth Kaplan, a member of the Brookline School Committee who supports public education, education reform and public school students.

In choosing Ms. Kaplan, Governor Patrick has found a supremely qualified, dedicated, thoughtful and open-minded activist to fill the parent representative slot on the Board.

As a longtime member of (Citizens for Public Schools) CPS (a broad based coalition that supports public schools) and co-founder of CPS’s Campaign for the Education of the Whole Child, Kaplan, a lawyer, has demonstrated great intelligence, compassion, courage in speaking out against the over reliance on standardized testing, attempts to privatize public education, and the marginalization of underserved English language learners, special education and urban students.

She has been a voice for quality and equitable education with great effect in her various roles as School Committee member, MASC board member, teacher, special education advocate and mother.

With this appointment, Governor Patrick is making good on his promise to bring together people of good will with diverse views and to bring on board qualified people who want to make a difference for those who have felt marginalized or excluded.

CPS is a coalition of more than fifty civic, religious, civil rights, education and labor organizations. It was formed in 1982 to support public schools in Massachusetts.

Marilyn Segal
Director, Citizens for Public Schools
www.citizensforpublicschools.org