Framingham Public Schools is pleased to Announce Two Finalists for the Director of Multilingual Education

Community members are invited to ‘Meet the Candidates’ at a virtual forum taking place on Tuesday April 6, 6 pm - 7pm. 

April 1, 2021 (Framingham, MA) In January, Ms. Gen Grieci announced her retirement after a 31-year professional career with Framingham Public Schools, prompting a search for the next leader of the Office of Multilingual Education. 

Framingham Public Schools is pleased to announce two finalists for the Director position and is now inviting the community to ‘Meet the Candidates’ at a virtual forum taking place on Tuesday April 6, 6 pm - 7pm. 

Ms. Jennifer LaBollita is the current Assistant Director of Multilingual Education for Framingham Public Schools. Prior to her current position, Ms. LaBollita was a high school English Language Arts/English as a Second Language teacher in both the Boston Public Schools and the Fall River Public Schools. Ms. LaBollita is a graduate of Boston University and has a Masters from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Dr. Aradhana Mudambi is currently the Director of ESOL, Bilingual Education, and World Languages Department in the Windham Public Schools in Willimantic, Connecticut. Prior to her current position, Dr. Mudambi was an Assistant Principal for a middle school in Windham and a Bilingual Teacher in Texas. Dr. Mudambi is a graduate of Rice University, has a Masters from the University of Houston and Harvard University, and received her Doctorate from Harvard University.

The “Meet the Candidates” Forum will take place virtually on Zoom next Tuesday, April 6, 6 pm - 7 pm. Community Members are encouraged to attend the webinar (Passcode: 243258); there will be live interpretation in Spanish, Portuguese, and American Sign Language (ASL). Attendees will be able to hear from the candidates, ask them questions, and will then be presented with a survey (that will be available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese) to offer feedback to the Superintendent of Schools regarding each candidate.

A Screening Committee established the key characteristics for the Director of Multilingual Education of Framingham Public Schools:

Expert in Multilingual Education. Knowledgeable about modern pedagogy and current practices with proven expertise in the field of multilingual education; demonstrates the ability to lead adaptable and innovative instructional and curricular design to meet the needs of all students in Framingham; successful experience in a multilingual learner classroom is strongly encouraged. 

Experienced Administrator. Demonstrates versatility and the ability to manage the personnel and cultural dynamics within each school and community. Mitigates, affects and fosters changes to align with the district's mission, and requirements of the Commonwealth and all applicable federal laws. 

Passionate Advocate. Fiercely committed to establishing anti-racist and culturally responsive policies and practices to support and engage all learners. Advocates for educational policies that offer equal opportunities for all students, particularly students who have been historically underrepresented and marginalized.

Transparent Communicator and Effective Collaborator. Excels at building relationships and establishing trust across diverse cultures and communities, including faculty/staff, parents and community members.

Results Oriented Leader. A strategic thinker who leverages data to evaluate, understand, and improve current instructional programs at all grade levels as well as develop and implement a vision for the future.

Thoughtful Listener. Authentic, accessible, and compassionate individual who is attentive and responsive to the needs of students, families, and faculty/staff. Accepts input from all stakeholders and makes courageous decisions in the best interest of all students.

About the Multilingual Education Department (OME)
The Multilingual Education Department offers research-based programs and exemplary instruction for English learners in the Framingham Public Schools. FPS has a diverse student population and currently services students from over 70 countries, including Brazil, China, Haiti, India, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, Vietnam and several Spanish-speaking countries. The district is committed to offering the highest quality of educational services to all students, and administers English Learner Education programs with the goal of developing English language proficiency and achieving state content-area standards, while simultaneously valuing students' native languages and cultural backgrounds.

About Framingham Public Schools
The mission of the Framingham Public Schools is to educate each student to learn and live productively as a critically-thinking, responsible citizen in a multicultural, democratic society by providing academically challenging instructional programs taught by highly-qualified staff and supported by comprehensive services in partnership with our entire community. For news, updates, and announcements, follow Framingham Public Schools (@FraminghamPS) on Facebook, Twitter, and (@framinghamschools) on Instagram. You can also join the conversation using #FraminghamSchools.