Sarah is a mom, a dedicated community volunteer, and unapologetic advocate for children and families in Chelsea. Sarah ran for and was elected to Chelsea School Committee to make sure all of our families are supported, connected, and have the opportunity to thrive.

Sarah's Priorities

Parent engagement

"When I bring my son to the parks around Chelsea, I love to strike up conversations and connect with other parents.

The role of the School Committee is to be the voice of the community, representing the priorities of parents and students in the management of our school district. But parent engagement is a monumental task, and our families are grappling with more stressors than ever.

As a School Committee member, I will be committed to engaging more parents and families in our work, doing outreach to educate families on what we do, listening to families' needs and opinions, and providing them with opportunities to be involved in decision-making."

Early childhood education and care

"Did you know Chelsea has the highest percent of residents under age 5 out of any city in Massachusetts?

When our government invests in early childhood, it creates savings in the long term and more opportunities for the community.

I had my first child in July 2020, in the midst of COVID, when I was a stay-at-home student/mom. Isolated and stuck at home, I realized the importance of programs that bring parents and babies together for social support. Later, as a working mom with a toddler, I had to spend tens of thousands of dollars per year on private daycare.

As a school committee member, I will advocate for more supports for families of babies and young kids—so we have affordable, high-quality childcare that helps kids develop and thrive, and resources for stay-at-home parents and their children to they stay healthy, connected, and supported."

Student mental health

"COVID-19 made it abundantly clear that our ongoing student mental health crisis can no longer be ignored.

Children cannot learn when they are grappling with trauma, depression, or ADHD.

As a social worker and as a long-time volunteer advocate for children involved with DCF, I know first-hand how important it is to get kids and teens the mental health services they need. As the mom of a child with an individualized education plan (IEP), I am unapologetic about advocating for students to get the supports they deserve.

As a school committee member, I will work to increase the number of social workers and mental health professionals in all our schools, and to help parents and families navigate our systems to get the mental health and special education services they are entitled to."

Sarah's Work

Community service

Founder of the Chelsea Research Festival
Volunteer advocate for children involved with DCF through Boston CASA since 2016
Volunteer playgroup facilitator for Chelsea Community Connections

Professional

Holds a PhD in social work and Master's degree in child development
Experienced mental health researcher and data analyst
Conducts research on children around the world, from Guatemala to Sierra Leone

Local government

Community activist, speaking at City Council meetings, community meetings, and the State House
Chelsea Planning Board member since January 2021