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Ernani DeAraujo, Esq.
BOSTON
- Wednesday, February 3, 2021 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the
appointment of Ernani DeAraujo, Esq. to the Boston School Committee, the
governing body of the Boston Public Schools (BPS). DeAraujo is the Vice
President of Regulatory Affairs and General Counsel at the East Boston
Neighborhood Health Center, where he serves as chief legal counsel to the
community health center with over 1,400 staff who serve over 100,000
patients, a fully licensed Emergency Department, and an Elder Service PACE
program.
"I
am pleased to welcome Ernani DeAraujo to this pivotal role on the Boston
School Committee at a time when our work on behalf of the students of
Boston has never been more important," said Mayor Walsh. "Ernani
has strong roots in his community, and over the course of his career he has
worked with an intentional focus on bringing equity and access to diverse
Bostonians. He joins a group of leaders on the Boston School Committee
committed to best serving the students of the Boston Public
Schools."
The
seven-member Boston School Committee is responsible for defining the
vision, mission, and goals of the Boston Public Schools; establishing and
monitoring the annual operating budget; hiring, managing, and evaluating
the Superintendent; and setting and reviewing district policies and
practices to support student achievement.
"I'm
grateful to Mayor Walsh for entrusting me with this opportunity to give
back to the Boston Public Schools that have so positively impacted my
life," said DeAraujo. "From the Bradley Elementary in East Boston
to the Boston Latin School, BPS gave me a foundation of academic, social,
and emotional strength for adulthood. I want to add my efforts on the
School Committee to ensure that all BPS students have the opportunities I
did. I look forward to working with the Committee, Superintendent
Cassellius, and the dedicated staff of BPS to bring kids and staff back to
school safely through this pandemic and continue the course of rebuilding
and reimagining BPS to spread excellence across all of our kids and
families."
"On
behalf of the Boston School Committee, I am pleased to welcome Ernani as
our newest colleague, and thank him for his commitment to serving on this
Committee," said Alexandra Oliver-Dávila, chairperson of the Boston
School Committee. "He has strong connections in the community, a
demonstrated passion for helping students succeed, and great experience as
a graduate of our schools. I look forward to working alongside him in
service to the students, families, and educators of the Boston Public
Schools and commend Mayor Walsh for this appointment and his ongoing
commitment to ensure the Boston School Committee represents the diversity
of our schools and our city."
DeAraujo
is a lifelong resident of East Boston, where he currently resides with his
family, and where he is very involved in the community through his work at
the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, and as a former neighborhood
liaison for East Boston during the Administration of former Mayor Thomas
Menino. He is the first person from East Boston to serve on the Boston
School Committee. In addition, he is the former President of NOAH Community
Development Corporation, where he oversaw the East Boston-based community
development corporation and worked to create affordable housing and
community building, especially through youth development and environmental
justice. He co-founded a program for East Boston High School, named the
Mario Umano Public Service Fellowship, that works to connect students with
internship opportunities in government and summer programs and helps
students apply to college.
DeAraujo
attended Boston Public Schools, including Bradley Elementary, Umana
Academy, and Boston Latin School (BLS), and went on to receive a B.A. from
Harvard College and a J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law
in Lexington, VA. In addition, DeAraujo is a Trustee of the BLS
Association, Board Secretary for the Center for Community Health Education
Research and Service, Inc, and is Vice Chairman of the John William Ward
Fellowship, where he helps coordinate public service programs for BLS
students.
The
members of the school committee are Boston residents appointed by the Mayor
of Boston to serve four-year staggered terms. Mayor Walsh made these
appointments based on a list of candidates recommended by a 13-member
Citizens Nominating Panel composed of parents, teachers, principals, and
representatives of business and higher education. Under the legislation
that established the appointed School Committee, "the Mayor shall
strive to appoint individuals who reflect the racial, ethnic, and
socioeconomic diversity of the city."
On
January 4, the Boston School Committee re-elected both Alexandra
Oliver-Dávila to Chairperson and Michael O'Neill to Vice Chairperson in
unanimous votes. In December 2020, the committee engaged in professional
development training which was led pro bono by Dr. Ibram
X. Kendi, author of How to Be an Antiracist, as part of its efforts to
examine policies and more
deeply understand their impact on communities of color.
The
School Committee meets approximately twice per month during the school year
to adopt, review and modify policies and practices that support teaching,
learning and improved student achievement. With the exception of executive
sessions, Committee meetings are open to the public, feature public comment
periods and are broadcasted on Boston City TV.
For
more information on the School Committee, please visit here.
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