Pictured left to right:
Jerome Doherty, Darlene Prado, Gina Desir, Molly Buckley, Karla Jenkins, Dr. Robin Lee, Danladi Bobbitt, Lea Serena.
Not Pictured: Dr. Albert Holland
(Coming Soon.)
Molly Buckley is passionate about inclusive education and literacy acquisition. She is deeply committed to nurturing inclusive classroom environments where every student feels seen, heard, and empowered to succeed. Her passion for literacy stems from the belief that access to language and literature is a fundamental right that opens doors to opportunity, understanding, and personal growth.
She is in her second year as a literacy coach at the Ellis Mendell Elementary School in Roxbury. Prior to coaching, she taught in BPS at the Bates and Orchard Gardens. She also taught at The Carroll School in Lincoln, MA. She holds a Bachelors of Arts and Masters of Education in Elementary Ed from UMass Amherst, a Masters of Education in Moderate Disabilities from Lesley University, and is currently working on a Certificate of Advanced Study in Literacy and Language at Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions.
Gina Desir is currently a Multilingual Instructional coach with the Office of Multilingual & Multicultural Education. She is an educator who strongly believes in the value of educational equity and culturally-responsive instruction for all students to enable them to become empowered and contributing citizens of their communities and this country. She believes that teaching goes beyond the classroom walls and as a result, Gina has been involved in a variety of groups and programs that allow her to grow professionally and better advocate for students. Gina intends to continue learning and growing as a leader to empower and support students and her colleagues.
Jerome Doherty serves as the Director of Evaluation and Performance Management, where he oversees all aspects of the evaluation/performance management process for BPS educators and non-instructional staff. He is responsible for developing training and support materials for OHC School Partners to use in their work with evaluators, maintaining the Interactive Rubric and evaluator calibration systems, developing evaluation rubrics, tools and protocols for non-instructional staff, and case management of underperforming educators. Jerome also served as an adjunct faculty member for the UMass Boston Leadership in Education program in Fall 2017 and Fall 2018. Prior to coming to the Central Office, Jerome served as principal of the Joyce Kilmer K-8 School in West Roxbury. Jerome has also served as an academy director at Orchard Gardens K-8 Pilot School in Roxbury, as an assistant and acting principal in Fitchburg, and as an instrumental music teacher in California and New Jersey. Jerome holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Ithaca College and a master’s degree in School Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Dr. Albert D. Holland is an independent Educational Consultant that has more than forty years of educational experience at the secondary and graduate level. Since retiring from the Boston Public Schools in 2008 from the Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers, Dr. Holland has worked with local public schools in the Boston area in advising and mentoring school leaders. Dr. Holland held various positions within the Boston Public Schools including High School Superintendent the 90’s, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools, and Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff, along with Headmaster of the Jeremiah E. Burke High School in the 1980’s, Executive Director of Health Careers Academy, Interim Headmaster Madison Park Technical Vocational High School 2015 and Assistant Headmaster South Boston High School during the desegregation of the Boston Public Schools in the 1970’s.
Dr. Holland started his career as a Juvenile Parole Agent with the Department of Youth Services in 1969 working his way to Parole Supervisor of the Boston Juvenile Court Team. It was during this time he decided to enter into education and has continued to be recognized as an outstanding educator and a leading expert in the area of transforming schools. He has received numerous local, state and national awards as an outstanding educator. In 1985 United State Justice Department Award for Public Service, 1990 Readers Digest American Hero in Education Award, 1991 the New England School of Law bestrode Honorary Degree of Doctor of Public Administration, and was selected a 2004 MetLife Foundation Ambassadors in Education Award. Dr. Holland has sat on numerous community and state boards and is still active trustee of the John A. Shelburne Community Center.
Dr. Holland has worked at the collegiate level since 1980’s at the University of Massachusetts/Boston as an Assistant Head Basketball Coach for thirteen years and as an Adjunct Professor School of Education at UMB. He continues to mentor and coach school leaders within the Boston Public Schools.
(Coming soon.)
Robin Lee is currently the Secondary School Superintendent for Region 9. She began her career in education as a science teacher at Hyde Park high school before transitioning to the Community Academy of Science and Health (CASH.) Robin also served as Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Placement before becoming Head of School in 2016. She led CASH in improving their graduation rate, and created a strong collaborative learning culture focused on improvement.
Robin received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff, her Master’s Degree in Education from University of Massachusetts in Boston and her Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership from Simmons University. She is most proud of being the mother of two daughters both BPS graduates and resides in Dorchester.
Darlene is an early childhood educator with a passion for nurturing young bilingual minds. In addition to her role as an educator, Darlene is also actively involved in her community, organizing and participating in various initiatives. She believes in the power of collaboration and community engagement to create a positive impact on the lives of young learners.
Darlene is a proud graduate of the Boston Public Schools and holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education degree from Northeastern University.
Lea-Antoinette Serena is a Dorchester born Cape-Verdean American. As a mom to a joyful Black boy she knows first hand how one child can change your world, which is a catalyst for her passion for education. She started her teaching career in Emotionally Impaired Sub Separate classrooms then transitioned to teaching inclusion. The highlight of her teaching career was teaching 2nd grade in her former 2nd grade classroom at the Mather Elementary School in Dorchester, with her former 1st grade teacher down the hall! Lea-Antoinette was previously the Elementary Field Representative for the Boston Teachers Union and now serves as not only the first woman Vice President of the BTU but the first Black officer of the BTU. Her work has been centered around approving the working conditions of those who have felt marginalized. She strongly believes that worker’s rights start with solidarity and organizing and that workers deserve to know their rights and have them protected. She also believes that teachers unions have so much power in impacting the learning conditions of our students and retention of our educators.