Candidate Statement

Belmont Public Schools (BPS) are at the heart of our community. I am running for School Committee to serve my town and provide experienced leadership during a critical moment for the future of our public schools. I am a dad to two elementary schoolers attending BPS, an enthusiastic volunteer soccer coach with the Belmont Soccer Association, and a former member of the BPS Return to In-person Learning Working Group. 

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I have dedicated my career to supporting and improving K-12 public education in the United States. I started working in education as a long-term substitute English teacher in middle school and went on to teach high school humanities in Berkeley Public Schools (California). I then left the classroom to pursue a doctorate in quantitative policy analysis at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. I am now an Associate Professor of Education and Economics at Brown University where I have taught education policy and the economics of education for the last ten years. My research focuses on district policies and school organizational practices to improve instructional quality.  

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As a former teacher, I understand the central role that educators play in making our schools great and the supports they need to best meet students' individual needs. I know the joy of that moment when a new concept *clicks* for the first time and you can see it in your students’ eyes. I also deeply appreciate the acute and lasting challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic has created for educators, administrators, and families alike.

As a researcher who frequently partners with districts, I have a keen understanding of education finance and the difficult choices districts must make when budgets are tight. I have experience managing multi-million dollar research projects and conducting cost-benefit analyses on a range of education policies. Economic training and financial acumen are critical for facing the BPS’s current budget challenges, where inflationary pressures and the end of federal aid for Covid recovery make every budget decision a high-stakes tradeoff. 

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Numbers matters, but ultimately this work is about people. This election is about making sure BPS meets the needs of the students, teachers, parents, and community members who make Belmont their home. I promise to listen, learn, and serve with humility. 

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I ask for your vote on April 2nd to add my voice to the School Committee. It would be an honor to serve my community in this capacity.

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If you would like to connect or get involved in the campaign please contact me at matt4belmont@gmail.com