All three finalists for Cambridge Public School District superintendent emphasized their commitment to minimizing gaps in student learning at a community forum Thursday.
The superintendent finalists are David Murphy, the interim superintendent in Cambridge; Lourenço Garcia, assistant superintendent for Revere Public Schools; and Magaly Sanchez, chief family advancement officer for Boston Public Schools.
The forum drew about 35 people to Cambridge Rindge and Latin School’s Fitzgerald Auditorium, which seats about 500 people. Each finalist had 45 minutes to answer previously submitted community questions and give introductory and closing statements. The session was moderated by CRLS seniors Roz Patterson and Eva Asraf – student representative to the School Committee – alongside former deputy superintendent Carolyn Turk.
The district got more than 75 questions and settled on 20 for the forum, Turk said. Topics ranged from inclusion of neurodivergent students and engagement with educators to providing healthier food options in school cafeterias.
Sanchez, the first speaker of the night, leaned into her experience designing curriculum for the New Bedford school system and passion for diversified learning.
“When it comes to inclusivity, it’s easy to say the word,” Sanchez said regarding how she plans to promote inclusion of neurodiverse students across the district. “To be able to do it successfully, we really have to engage our educators, we have to engage our union partners and we need to engage our school leaders.”
Garcia echoed Sanchez’s promise to center contact with teachers – who, in turn, need to be prepared to educate at a variety of levels.
“We need to invest in our teachers to ensure that they know how to teach different skills, because that will provide differentiated classes. We need to make sure they know how to differentiate instructions,” Garcia said.
Garcia said his experience as an immigrant who has lived in Angola, Cape Verde, Ukraine and the United States prepares him to lead the “diverse demographics” of Cambridge Public Schools.
Murphy, who became interim superintendent after the May 2024 resignation of former superintendent Victoria Greer, emphasized his knowledge of the strength of Cambridge educational programs and his experience “empowering educators,” which he deemed the ultimate goal of a superintendent.
Murphy cited an ongoing “obligation” the district has to promote equity, and acknowledged persistent gaps in learning.
“When we see the types of persistent gaps that we have seen historically in Cambridge, I think there is an inescapable conclusion that our students have not had equitable experiences,” Murphy said.
Thursday’s forum was the second-to-last public event in the ongoing and controversial search for superintendent. School Committee members will interview finalists in a public session Tuesday ahead of the Oct. 6 final committee vote.
Previous forums have drawn criticism for poor scheduling, some held during school and work hours when many community members could not attend. Thursday’s finalist forum conflicted with the high school’s Curriculum Night, when parents follow students around their classrooms and meet teachers.
The forum was livestreamed and is posted online here.
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