About Shai
My Story
I am a true citizen of the world. I was born in Israel to Argentinean parents. When I was seven years old, we moved to Mexico City, where I attended a British school. We moved again when I was 10, this time to Caracas, Venezuela, where I attended an English-speaking/American school. Growing up among different languages, customs and traditions wasn’t always easy, but it taught me to value inclusion and tolerance.
In 1995, I arrived in the U.S. to attend Brandeis University. My junior year I took a course called The Sociology of Education, which sparked my passion for education as a force for positive social change and motivated me to pursue a career in education. Shortly after graduating from Brandeis, I started working at the Education Development Center (EDC), which has been my professional home for the past 25 years! I conduct research, deliver training sessions and provide consultation to a range of audiences, including state agencies, local school districts and community-based organizations. My expertise lies in the intersection between education and behavioral and mental health.
While working at EDC, I attended graduate school twice: first, earning my Masters in Education, and then my Doctorate in Education--both from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In grad school I honed my skills as a researcher—using both quantitative and qualitative methods. I also deepened my understanding of youth development and effective pedagogy.
In 2010 my wife, our then 3.5-year-old son, and I moved to our home in Natick. Along the way came our daughter, now 13, our greyhound/lab Peachie (now gone but never forgotten), our springer spaniel mix, Lexi and most recently, our german sheperd/rottweiler mix Enzo.
Since we moved here, I have been an active resident, volunteering for different organizations including the Natick Education Foundation, Natick Soccer (as my son’s soccer coach), and the Natick Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). In June 2019, the Select Board and the School Committee appointed me to fill a vacant seat on School Committee. I was elected for the reminder of the term and then re-elected for a full term on the School Committee in 2020 and 2021 respectively. In April 2023, the School Committee unanimously voted to appoint me as the Committee's Chair.
I am now seeking another term on the Committee to bring consistent leadership. To do so, I need your vote on March 26, 2024.
Why I am Running
In April 2017, I took the oath of citizenship at Faneuil Hall. As a proud new citizen I am excited to play an active role in our democracy. And what better way (other than voting and meeting with congressional representatives – check and check) than running for local office?!
I decided to run specifically for School Committee because education is what I know best! In my professional life I conduct research, offer trainings, and consult with school districts across the country. I am excited to continue to bring everything I have learned to support our schools and students right here in Natick.
My two biggest inspirations for running for School Committee are my 17-year-old son and my 13-year-old daughter, both of whom are Natick public school students. Like any two children they are very different from each other—different personalities, abilities, amd motivations. They are also neuro-developmentally different. One of them is typically developing while the other one is not. Of course I love them both and want the best for them, including the best education possible. And that’s why I am committed to ensuring that my two kids and the other thousands of students in the Natick public school system, get the best instruction, services and support they need to be successful—however "success" is defined for each one of them.
My Accomplishments on School Committee
As an experienced Natick School Committee member, I am proud of the many accomplishments that my colleagues and I have achieved. Some of the personal acheivements that I am most proud of include:
Demonstrating Strong Leadership: Since Day 1 on School Committee, I brought my values, experience, and expertise to help lead NPS towards excellence. In 2020, when NPS had the difficult challenge of navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic, I stepped up to represent the School Committee on the districts COVID task force, planning along side administrators, educators, and other town leaders how to safely bring students back into schools. In April 2023, my colleagues on the School Committee unanimously elected me as the Committee's Chair--a position I continue to hold. As Chair, I led the Committee through the superintendent transition, from Dr. Nolin to Ms. Wong, including the search for an interim superintendent. Since last summer, I have also led the Committee through the selection process for our next permanent superintendent, Dr. Melissa Spash.
Supporting Students' Academic and Social-Emotional Success: Since I joined the Committee 4.5 years ago I have brought my experience and expertise--particurlarly in the fields of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and school-based mental health supports--to improve education in Natick. This includes providing cutting-edge information to our administrators, reviewing and providing feedback on the selection of our SEL curriculum, and advocating for the right resources in our district--including mental health counselors and mental health screening tools. I have also brought my expertise to advocate for evidence-based approaches to academic success, including backing our transition to the Science of Reading, and reviewing and approving our new K-12 math curricula.
Steadfast Commitment to Equity: When I ran three years ago, I told voters that I am committed to promoting equity in our schools. Over the past few years, I stood by my word. I brought an equity lens to every decision we made, including those pertaining to budgets and policies. Specific examples include approving METCO expansion, issuing the proclamation to fly the pride progress flag in our schools, and adding Diwali and Eid al-Fitr to the NPS calendar.
Strong Town Partner: I also committed myself to working with town partners to ensure that we are not just supporting our students, but that together we are making Natick the best place to work, live, and raise a family. To support these efforts, I joined several town-wide initiatives. For example, I represented the School Committee on the Fire Chief Screening Committee. In addition, I represented the Committee on Natick 180--a town-wide coalition that works to promote wellbeing, prevent substance misuse, and support those struggling with substance use disorders and mental health challanges.
