Governor Healey Appoints New Member to Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Governor Healey Appoints New Member to  

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education 

Kristen Smidy, former superintendent of Gateway Regional School District,  

brings Western MA experience to the Board 

 

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that Governor Maura Healey has appointment Kristen Smidy as the newest member of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Smidy is a former teacher, principal and superintendent with nearly 20 years of experience as an educator in Massachusetts. She currently serves as the Associate Director for Accreditation and School Improvement on the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Commission on Public Schools.  

 

“We are excited to welcome Kristen Smidy to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “Her leadership and deep commitment to high-quality instruction, student support and community connections will be a great asset to the Board. She brings an important perspective will be a powerful voice for students and families in Western Massachusetts.” 

  

“I am delighted to welcome the well-respected former Superintendent Kristen Smidy to the Board,” said Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Chair Katherine Craven. “Superintendent Smidy brings valuable insight to our Board, not only due to her direct experience running a Western Massachusetts regional school district, but also because of her deep knowledge of statewide educational accreditation best practices." 

 

Smidy joined NEASC in the fall of 2025 after almost five years as superintendent for the Gateway Regional School District in Huntington, Massachusetts. She previously served as the principal of Hampshire Regional High School and began her career as a 6^th and 7^th grade social studies teacher at Duggan Middle School in Springfield.  

 

“It is an honor to serve on the Board and to bring forward the voices of students across Massachusetts, from our cities to small, rural towns across the state and particularly from Western Massachusetts,” said Kristen Smidy. “I am committed to ensuring that all students have the opportunities they deserve.” 

 

Smidy has served on the Legislative Committee for the Massachusetts School Superintendents, the Connecticut Valley Superintendent Roundtable Executive Board, and the Massachusetts Inclusive Higher Education task force. She is a graduate of UMass Amherst and Boston University. 

 

Learn more about the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the members’ full bios. 

 

Statements of Support

 

Dr. Mary M. Bourque, Executive Director Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (M.A.S.S.): 

“Kristen Smidy is an outstanding choice for this position. As Superintendent of Gateway Regional School District and a member of the M.A.S.S Legislative Committee, she demonstrated a keen understanding of some of the most critical issues in PK-12 public education in the Commonwealth, particularly the significant challenges and needs in our rural districts. Kristen will bring to the Board a strong sense of pragmatism and a tremendous ability to get to the core of complex issues.” 

 

Jessica Tang, American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts President: 

“Students, families, and educators across the Commonwealth have a strong advocate in Kristen Smidy and we are excited to see someone with such a strong connection to and understanding of public schools in Massachusetts appointed to the Board. From her time as a social studies teacher at the Duggan Middle School in Springfield through her years leading regional school districts in Western Massachusetts, Kristen brings a deep understanding of the unique needs of our rural and high-needs districts, the same communities being impacted the most by the federal disruptions to public education. We look forward to seeing Kristen bring her years of experience in our public schools and her unwavering commitment to her students to move the Board forward in its work to support the public schools, students, and educators of Massachusetts.” 

 

State Senator Jo Comerford (D - Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester):  

"Kudos to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for appointing former Gateway Regional School Superintendent Kristen Smidy to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Before today, no BESE member represented Hampshire, Franklin, or Berkshire Counties on this statewide body. This news gives us a necessary seat at the table and is a very positive and welcome first step." 

 

State Senator John Velis (D- Hampden and Hampshire):  

“I am beyond thrilled that Kristen Smidy has been appointed to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Having had the honor of working with Kristen during her time as Superintendent to the Gateway Regional School district I know she will be an invaluable asset to the Board as they continue to shape and strengthen our Commonwealth’s public education system to help all of our students succeed regardless of zip code.” 

 

State Representative Lindsay Sabadosa (D - 1st Hampshire): 

“I first came to know Kristen Smidy during her tenure at Hampshire Regional High School, where she skillfully led the school through the challenges of the pandemic. She earned the deep respect of students, families, and colleagues, and was a tireless advocate for her school community. In the years since, Kristen has become a strong and consistent voice for rural education, demonstrating a deep understanding of the unique challenges facing our most rural towns. She brings both insight and dedication to the work of ensuring all students have access to a high-quality education. Kristen will be a powerful addition to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, offering a much-needed western Massachusetts perspective rooted in equity and fairness. I couldn’t be more thrilled by her appointment.” 

 

State Representative Natalie Blais (D - 1st Franklin): 

“Kristen Smidy has been a tenacious and tireless advocate for rural schools in Massachusetts. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from her and from the countless number of students that she has engaged in the legislative process. Her appointment by the Healey-Driscoll Administration underscores the importance of having diverse perspectives at the table to ensure that every student, regardless of zip code, receives the very best education that our Commonwealth can provide.”