Driscoll School Gets Interim principal, Brookline's METCO Gets New Leader

BROOKLINE, MA — In case you missed it there are some changes at the Driscoll School and for METCO. The head of Brookline schools’ METCO program will take over as the interim principal at the Driscoll School next school year and Keith Lezama will take over the METCO program beginning in July. The Superintendent's office made the announcement this month.

Earlier this year Heidi Cook announced she was looking at other schools and then last month that she was stepping down from her spot at the Driscoll School, which has seen a number of principals in recent years.

Sujan Talukdar has served as the K-12 director for the school department’s Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity program since 2006.

“Through thoughtful listening and excellent communication, Dr. Talukdar has garnered the trust of Brookline and Boston community members alike,” said Superintendent Andrew Bott in a statement.

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As for METCO, Lezama has been with Brookline’s school system since 2006, and has worked as the coordinator of the METCO program within Brookline High School. And is, himself a graduate of BHS and the METCO program. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in education from Emmanuel College and a Master’s Degree in educational leadership from Simmons. He received his Doctor of Education in K-12 educational leadership from Northeastern University. Lezama is also a liaison to Emmanuel College’s Department of Education in the area of multicultural education and recently completed his tenured role as an adviser to The College Board’s national conference on diversity, according to Bott's statement.

Talukdar began her career in education as a grade 6 social studies teacher at the Day Middle School in Newton then moved to be director of the Intercultural Center at Brandeis University. She spent 17 years as a graduate-level course instructor and consultant for the EDCO Collaborative in Bedford, and the last 2 years as a consultant and instructor for the Leadership Licensure Program for Teachers 21 in Wellesley, a program designed for aspiring principals, according to Bott's statement.

Image of the Driscoll School via Google Maps

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