Hundreds More Join Matheson’s Call to Bring Malden Back to the People! (Paid Political Advertisement) Malden ADVOCATE Vol. 28, No. 42 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Malden one of 15 school districts selected to participate in DESE’s Influence 100 Pilot program will strengthen pipeline of diverse education leaders T he state Department of Elementary and Second Education (DESE) has announced that 15 school districts statewide, including the Malden Public Schools, will participate in the Influence 100 pilot program, an initiative aimed at increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of superintendents and creating more culturally responsive districts and leaders in order to promote better outcomes for students. Two Malden Public Schools principals, Abdel Sepulveda (Ferryway, K-8) and Rafael Garcia (Linden S.T.E.A.M. Academy) are representing the Malden district in Influence 100. Over the next four years, they will be part of group of 100 racially and ethnically diverse school leaders who will engage to Influence 100 fellows in the leadership development programming. Influence 100 launched on Friday, October 11, the same day that DESE began the second cohort of InSPIRED fellows – In-Service Professionals who are committed to Increasing the Racial and Ethnic Diversity of the teacher workforce. InSPIRED fellows meet with high school and college students to encourage them to consider teaching, and this year the fellowship will also host regional groups in order to support retention of culturally responsive and diverse educators. Both Influence 100 and the InSPIRED fellows aim to diversify the Commonwealth’s educator workforce. Approximately 40 percent of the Commonwealth’s public school students are students of color, but only 8 percent of teachers and 4 percent of superintendents identify themselves that way. In the “Our Way Forward” re$3.39 $2.45 GALLON GALLON We accept: MasterCard * Visa * & Discover Price Subject to Change without notice 100 Gal. Min. 24 Hr. Service 781-286-2602 port, DESE Commissioner Jeffrey Riley included increasing educator diversity as an evidence-based practice that will help address achievement gaps and improve instruction for all students. “I look forward to working with the Influence 100 fellows and districts and with the second cohort of InSPIRED fellows to make our schools more welcoming and supportive of students and educators of all backgrounds,” said Commissioner Riley. “Malden Public Schools is proud to be one of 15 districts in the Influence 100 program from DESE,” said Malden Superintendent of Schools John Oteri, who was present at the SELECTED | SEE PAGE 12 DUTY CALLS: Malden residents Mitchell Law and Deming Yang took their oaths as Middlesex County Deputy Sheriff volunteers at the Irish American Club in Malden on Wednesday. Shown from left to right are Mitchell Law, Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, Jason Law – Mitchell’s proud father – and Deming Yang. Former Marine Sgt. Law and Corporal Yang served together as United States Marines and will now proudly serve their county as Middlesex County Sheriff Dept. volunteers. (Courtesy photo) Councillor Murphy challenged by Danyal Najmi for Ward 5 seat By Barbara Taormina I t has been awhile since two names were on the ballot for the Ward 5 City Councillor race. But this year incumbent Barbara Murphy is facing a challenge from Danyal Najmi, a new voice in the city’s political arena. Both candidates bring plenty of ideas and experience to a race which offers voters one of the clearest choices in the election cycle. Barbara Murphy Ward 5 Councillor Barbara Murphy has racked up a long list of accomplishments since she was first elected in 2009, and she’s hopes to keep at it. “I have a lot left to do,” said Murphy, who is seeking another term on the City Council. Although much has changed in Malden in recent years, Murphy’s outlook for the city has remained the same. “My vision for Malden continues to be a community of strong neighborhoods, proud of our past and excited about our future,” she said. Much of Murphy’s work on the City Council has focused on what she describes as quality of life issues. A member of the Municipal Building Committee, she has played a leading role in the design of the new City Hall. “I’ve spent a lot of time looking at rugs, furniture, desks, lighting and I’m really looking forward to the ribbon-cutting,” she said. “A lot of wok went into making it accessible and to giving people the ability to engage in our community.” Murphy was also out front in reclaiming the Malden River as a community resource. MURPHY | SEE PAGE 5 Published Every Friday 617-387-2200 Friday, October 18, 2019 Former US Marines volunteer for their county
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