Drew Magliozzi running for School Committee

I’m running for Acton School Committee because public service has been woven into my life from the beginning. My parents met in Americorps VISTA and raised my brother and me with a deep commitment to public service and public education.

After graduating from Harvard, I founded a tutoring company that I ran for 10 years and served on the non-profit board of Cambridge School Volunteers. For the past decade, I’ve led Mainstay, an ed tech company that helps colleges deliver AI-enhanced coaching to close achievement gaps for underserved students.

My wife and I moved to Acton with our two children, who attend Willard School. We love this community, but we know we can do better. The challenges we’re facing demand leaders willing to lean into difficult conversations.

One such challenge hits close to home. While I am not Jewish, my wife and children are. The ADL case along with recent racist incidents have been painful, but they also present an opportunity. We cannot solve antisemitism and racism alone, but we can confront these uncomfortable truths together. By accepting responsibility, holding space for all perspectives, and listening deeply, we can ensure everyone feels safe and supported. It won’t be easy, but it’s essential work.

Technology presents another set of policy decisions requiring thoughtful leadership, such as cellphones in schools and how best to incorporate artificial intelligence into teaching and learning. My experience has taught me the critical questions to ensure we close (rather than widen) critical achievement gaps.

For 37 years, my father and uncle hosted “Car Talk” on NPR, welcoming callers whose automotive troubles revealed human concerns. From them, I learned how attention, empathy, and well-timed humor can help untangle hard problems. And I pledge to bring respect, curiosity, and levity to help address Acton’s challenges today and tomorrow.

Drew Magliozzi

Nut Meadow Crossing