Gail meets with a student who she helped to gain admission to Tufts University with a full scholarship.

An educator with management experience
With master’s degrees in Education and Business Administration and many years work experience in both business and education, I am uniquely qualified to provide leadership to our schools. I understand budgets and organizational issues AND what it is like to be in the classroom.

A believer in public education
Having attended public school myself, from elementary through community college, I know the potential of public education. As the parent of Cambridge Public School children for the past 14 years, I understand the system’s strengths and weaknesses, and am committed to making the necessary improvements to boost our students’ achievement while preserving and enhancing those programs that are working well.

Committed to using our resources wisely and attracting support
Investing in our students truly is investing in the future. A quality education vastly expands the options for our young people.  I will make sure that we make good use of our existing resources and attract and develop new resources. Drawing on my experience as a training and consultant services manager for a non-profit Boston consortium, I know how to find and harness a wide range of volunteer contributions. I will work to strengthen partnerships with our academic institutions and leverage the abundant supply of talent and resources in our local business community.

Active in the schools and community
I have been active in the Cambridge community, including our schools, for the past 14 years – including service as an assistant teacher, school improvement council co-chair, tutor, classroom volunteer and leader of parent programs in our schools. I have coached youth soccer, helped start a family center in North Cambridge and served on the boards of youth baseball and soccer organizations. I have opened many doors for Cambridge children and their families.

The ability to effect personal and organizational change
I spearheaded the diversity initiative at a Fortune 500 company, while playing key roles in employee involvement and quality improvement efforts.  I helped to build from scratch the staff at a large state agency. I have raised the level of hiring of women and people of color in every organization where I was involved in hiring. I have taught college courses in Human Resource Management to adults working full-time while seeking their college degree. Through my work at TERI (a non-profit focused on helping first generation and low income youth and adults achieve post-secondary success) and as a volunteer at Cambridge Rindge and Latin I have personally helped many students find the right college or career program and then found them the necessary grants and scholarships to make it happen.  

These are some of the reasons that Progess for Cambridge, a group of parents and residents who care deeply about our schools, has endorsed Gail Lemily Wiggins for Cambridge School Committee.