10 Public School Leaders Worth Knowing in Boston

Last updated: August 2026

Public-school leadership is often most visible in the decisions that make the next day clearer for students, families and staff. This guide brings together 10 Boston leaders whose current work shows the range of leadership needed across a public-school system.

The people here work across district, regional, academic, operational and community roles. They offer useful examples for anyone who wants to think more clearly about how school teams turn a shared purpose into practical action.

Why public-school leadership in Boston matters

Strong school leadership is not only about having a good idea. It is about making the work clear enough for people to move together, especially when the work involves many schools, communities and competing needs.

That is why the roles below matter. Each one sits at a different point between a big direction and the practical decisions that shape learning, operations, support and belonging.

1. Mary Skipper

Superintendent, Boston Public Schools

Mary Skipper is the Superintendent of Boston Public Schools. That role carries the work of turning district choices into a clear experience for students, families and staff across the city.

Her BPS biography says she helped launch TechBoston Academy and served as its founding school leader in 2002. It is a helpful picture of system leadership that stays connected to the work of building a school community.

2. Dr. Tanya Freeman-Wisdom

Chief of Schools, Boston Public Schools

Dr. Tanya Freeman-Wisdom is the Chief of Schools at Boston Public Schools. Her role sits close to the people and teams responsible for the daily life of schools.

Her BPS biography says she expanded science pathways and increased access to Advanced Placement courses while leading the John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science. The example points to leadership that links a clear learning focus with practical access for students.

3. Dr. Samuel DePina

Senior Deputy Superintendent of Operations, Boston Public Schools

Dr. Samuel DePina is the Senior Deputy Superintendent of Operations at Boston Public Schools. Operations leadership matters because the conditions around schools can either support or slow down the work of educators.

His BPS biography records experience in operational, student-support, assistant-headmaster and teaching roles. That range gives a useful picture of a leader who has worked across several parts of a public-school system.

4. Dr. Angela Hedley-Mitchell

Interim Chief of Teaching and Learning, Boston Public Schools

Dr. Angela Hedley-Mitchell is the Interim Chief of Teaching and Learning at Boston Public Schools. This is a role where strategy needs to stay close to what teachers and students experience each day.

Her BPS biography says she has served the district for 25 years and previously led humanities work across the district. It is a reminder that long-term leadership can bring both memory and a practical understanding of change.

5. Dr. Christine Landry

Elementary School Superintendent, Region 4, Boston Public Schools

Dr. Christine Landry is the Elementary School Superintendent for Region 4 at Boston Public Schools. Her work supports school communities in Roxbury, Jamaica Plain and Allston/Brighton.

Her BPS biography says she previously oversaw the adoption of MassCore graduation requirements. The work shows how regional leaders can help a district turn broad expectations into support that makes sense for local school communities.

6. Dr. Pauline Lugira White

School Superintendent, Region 7, Boston Public Schools

Dr. Pauline Lugira White is the School Superintendent for Region 7 at Boston Public Schools. Regional leadership often depends on helping people see the next useful step while keeping the wider direction clear.

BPS credits her with work in Equitable Literacy practices and with mentoring teachers and administrators toward leadership opportunities. That combination brings attention to both student learning and the people who will lead future school teams.

7. Dr. Simone Wright

Deputy Superintendent of Academics, Boston Public Schools

Dr. Simone Wright is the Deputy Superintendent of Academics at Boston Public Schools. Her role brings a system-wide view to teaching, learning and the choices that shape classroom practice.

Her BPS biography says she joined the district in January 2026 after serving as Chief Academic Officer for Denver Public Schools. The move brings experience from another large public-school system into Boston’s academic leadership work.

8. Dr. Tommy Welch

School Superintendent, Region 1, Boston Public Schools

Dr. Tommy Welch is the School Superintendent for Region 1 at Boston Public Schools. His region includes schools in Charlestown, East Boston and the North End.

BPS says he supports 15 schools across those communities. It is a strong example of leadership that has to balance a shared direction with the different needs of individual school communities.

9. Dr. Kristen Weeks

Elementary School Superintendent, Region 5, Boston Public Schools

Dr. Kristen Weeks is the Elementary School Superintendent for Region 5 at Boston Public Schools. Her role brings regional support to the work of school leaders and their teams.

Her BPS biography says she previously served as Assistant Head of School at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School. That school-based experience helps connect regional decisions with the real pace and pressure of school life.

10. Myriam Ortiz

Chief of Community Engagement, Boston Public Schools

Myriam Ortiz is the Chief of Community Engagement at Boston Public Schools. Community engagement is a leadership responsibility because families, staff and the public need clear ways to take part in the life of schools.

BPS says she coordinates district-wide opportunities for families, staff and the public to engage with the Superintendent’s Office. The role shows that good school leadership includes listening carefully and making participation easier.

What these leaders show us about public-school leadership

The roles in this guide are different, but they share a common task: helping people turn complex work into a clear next move. A superintendent, regional leader or community leader cannot carry every decision alone, so the way work is named and shared matters.

For school teams, the practical question is simple. Can every person see what the team is trying to achieve, what they own next and how their work helps students and colleagues?

Clear roles do not remove the hard parts of school leadership. They can, however, make it easier for people to raise a concern, make a decision and follow through without waiting for everything to be perfect.

How to use this list

Use these names as a starting point for noticing the different kinds of leadership that public schools need. A school team may find it useful to talk about where its own work is already clear and where important decisions still feel stuck or vague.

For a closer look at team health, read how school principals can use Working Genius to build a healthier team. For ideas about staff learning that can support follow-through, see practical tips for CPD training for teachers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the public school leaders in this guide?

They are district and regional leaders working across Boston Public Schools. The guide gives readers a starting point for seeing the breadth of work that happens across a large public-school system.

What does a school superintendent do?

A school superintendent helps set a clear direction for a school system and supports the people who turn that direction into daily practice. The role brings together learning, operations, staff, families and community needs.

Why does regional leadership matter?

Regional leaders help make a broad direction useful for individual school communities. They can support school leaders as they respond to local needs while still working toward shared goals.

How can a school team use this guide?

A team can use it as a prompt for a simple conversation about clear roles, shared decisions and follow-through. The best outcome is one small action that makes the next week easier for students and staff.

Conclusion

Public-school leadership asks people to bring clarity to work that is often busy, varied and emotionally important. The leaders in this guide show how different roles can contribute to that work.

If your school is planning a leadership day or staff session, I can help your people name the real decision, make ownership visible and leave with a next action they can use on Monday. For a written proposal, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

Related Reading

Read how school principals can use Working Genius to build a healthier team for a practical way to strengthen a school leadership team.

Read practical tips for CPD training for teachers for practical staff-learning ideas.

About the author

Jonno White is a Brisbane-based leadership consultant, keynote speaker and Certified Working Genius Facilitator, and the author of Step Up or Step Out. He works with schools, organisations and leadership teams around the world. To enquire about a keynote, workshop or facilitated leadership session, email jonno@consultclarity.org.