|
Mary Jo Rossetti |
President Elect
|
|
|
 |
|
Somerville, MA |
 |
Somerville native and six term school committee member Mary Jo Rossetti has emerged as one of the state’s leading proponents for children and families.
A youth sports director and Girl Scout leader, she began her public advocacy work as a Secretary-Treasurer of the Powder House Community School PTA and as PTA President of Somerville High School. After several terms as the school council co-chair, she was elected to the Somerville School Committee in 1999 and, shortly thereafter became active in MASC, serving as Secretary-Treasurer, Vice Chair and Chair of MASC’s Metropolitan Division (Division II). She became a member of the MASC Board of Directors in 2007 and was elected MASC Secretary-Treasurer in 2009 and Vice President in 2010. In addition, she served on the Resolutions Committee and chaired the MASC Personnel and Budget Committees.
Ms. Rossetti participated in several Federal Relations Network sessions in Washington and served as a delegate to the National School Boards Delegate Assembly in 2010 and 2011. The former chair of the MASC Advocacy Committee, she oversaw the creation of several MASC public policy resources for school finance in perilous economic times and for students at risk.
Ms. Rossetti has also used her experiences serving students and families in economic crisis to focus on the plight of transient and mobile students, including many immigrants and migrant workers, who may move as often as 3-5 times each year in search of employment and social stability. She was cited by legislative leaders for her role in helping to secure the nation’s first legislation requiring the gathering of data and research in this area. In 2011, she carried the day at the NSBA Delegate Assembly securing support for her national initiative to address the needs of transient students and the school districts that serve them.
In addition to her recognition by state and national advocates for children, she was named Person of the Year by the Somerville PTA in 2008. She remains active in Somerville as a member of the municipality’s Library Board and as the School Committee’s legislative liaison. When she is not indoors as a public advocate, Ms. Rossetti also works outside with young people as Somerville’s Open Air Circus Baton Twirling instructor. |
|
|
|
|
|
About Us 
