Crimson staff writer
Ayaan Ahmad
Latest Content
David Weinstein Aims to Build on Progress, Close Achievement Gaps in Fourth-Term School Committee Run
David J. Weinstein has served for six years on the Cambridge School Committee. As he returns to place yet another bid for a seat on the board, he hopes to tackle the district’s persistent achievement gaps.
Nonprofit Founder Jane Hirschi Pushes For Project-Based Learning in Cambridge School Committee Bid
Jane S. Hirschi, founder of the educational nonprofit CitySprouts and parent of two former Cambridge Public Schools students, is running for School Committee to push for a more widespread adoption of project-based learning in Cambridge classrooms.
Cambridge Paid Additional $40,000 to Superintendent Search Firm Without Full School Committee’s Knowledge
The City of Cambridge quietly paid The Equity Process — the firm that led the district’s controversial superintendent search — an additional $40,000 without the knowledge of many School Committee members for a large amount of work that was included in their previous contract.
Lilly Havstad Wants to ‘Flip the Script’ in Run for School Committee
In a crowded field of eighteen candidates for Cambridge’s School Committee, six are educators and ten currently have kids in the district. Lilly Havstad is both — and thinks that her perspective is exactly what the School Committee needs to rebuild parents’ and educators’ trust.
CPS Looks for Solutions as Black Students Remain Behind White Counterparts on MCAS Performance
Massachusetts has recognized Cambridge Public Schools as the largest district in the state to reach pre-pandemic achievement levels on standardized testing. But for Black students in the district, test scores reflect a different reality.
José Luis Rojas Villarreal Aims to Build Across Disagreement in School Committee Reelection Bid
José Luis Rojas Villarreal is running for a fourth term on the Cambridge School Committee as a “voice of reason,” pledging to bridge internal divides to put student education first.
‘My Voice Matters’: Cambridge Public Schools Celebrate $50,000 Sound Equipment Grant
Students at the Maria L. Baldwin Elementary School gathered at their monthly assembly on Friday to celebrate a $50,000 grant awarded to Cambridge Public Schools to install new sound systems in five district schools.
School Committee Candidates Say They Want to Close Achievement Gaps. Arjun Jaikumar Says He Has A Plan.
When Arjun K. Jaikumar left his private practice to work for Massachusetts as a public attorney, he made a commitment to the public good. Now, he is committing to children in Cambridge, running for School Committee with concrete plans to eliminate achievement gaps and improve transparency.
Cambridge School Committee Votes to Appoint David Murphy as Permanent Superintendent
The Cambridge School Committee voted to appoint interim superintendent David G. Murphy for the permanent role on Monday, putting an end to a search process that lasted more than a year and was marked by controversy.
Despite Overall MCAS Score Growth, Achievement Gaps Widen in CPS
Cambridge students’ scores on the 2024-25 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam improved, but a closer look reveals deep inequities — with the achievement gap across racial and socioeconomic lines widening from last year.