Worcester Superintendent Will Join Healey Transition Team Committee

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester Superintendent Rachel Monárrez will co-chair a committee assisting governor-elect Maura Healey's transition team, one of the few central Massachusetts policymakers taking part in the transition.

Monárrez will co-chair a committee that will examine how to improve conditions for young people in the state. Latinos for Education CEO Amanda Fernandez was picked as the second co-chair.

The committee will advise Healey on "How we address learning loss from the pandemic and give all children and families equitable access to the educational, social, emotional and behavioral supports they need," according to a news release.

Healey has formed six committees to examine issues like transportation, job creation, affordable housing and climate change.

"These six policy committees were identified as having urgent needs that the new administration must address to move Massachusetts forward, as well as presenting powerful opportunities to foster collaboration across sectors and issue areas to drive progress. The committees are charged with producing action-oriented deliverables that will guide the Healey-Driscoll Administration, including identifying the timeline for action, resources to leverage, and metrics to measure effectiveness," the news release said.

Healey won the governor's seat by a wide margin in the Nov. 8 election, and will take office alongside lieutenant governor-elect and Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll in early January.

Monárrez was hired by the Worcester School Committee in April after a six-month search. Before Worcester, Monárrez was an assistant superintendent in San Bernardino, Calif.