FY25 A.I. Secretary/Commissioner of Education's Update
Massachusetts Secretary of Education, Dr. Patrick Tutwiler, is a lifelong educator and dedicated advocate for equity in public education with a career spanning from classroom teacher to district superintendent. Dr. Tutwiler has consistently focused on ensuring that every student, regardless of background, has access to a high-quality education. Under his leadership, as Massachusetts Secretary of Education, Dr. Tutwiler has spearheaded several key initiatives:
- Early Literacy Enhancement: Launched the "Literacy Launch" program, a multi-year effort aimed at expanding access to evidence-based literacy instruction through professional development and high-quality materials for educators.
- Student Support Initiatives: Announced $14 million in SUCCESS grants aimed at increasing graduation rates at state universities by funding peer mentors, academic and career advising, and other student supports.
- Innovation Career Pathways: Awarded $1 million in grants to 29 school districts to plan and implement pathway programs, providing students with coursework and experiences in high-demand STEM industries before they graduate high school.
Today, Dr. Tutwiler will discuss the evolving landscape of public education in Massachusetts, the state’s ongoing efforts to support districts through policy and funding initiatives, and the critical role school business administrators play in ensuring resources are effectively allocated to meet student needs. Secretary Patrick Tutwiler will provide an overview of the state's ongoing investments in early literacy, student success initiatives, and career pathway programs, highlighting how these efforts impact school finance and resource allocation. He will also discuss the role of funding in promoting equity, expanding access to educational opportunities, and ensuring long-term sustainability for districts across the Commonwealth.
Patrick Tutwiler, PhD
Massachusetts Secretary of Education
Executive Office of Education
Patrick Tutwiler, PhD is the Secretary of the Executive Office of Education, and the first Black person to ever hold that role in Massachusetts’ history. As Massachusetts Secretary of Education, Tutwiler directs the Executive Office of Education, which oversees early education, K-12, and higher education. Secretary Tutwiler sits on each of the boards governing the Commonwealth’s education agencies, as well as the University of Massachusetts system. He is Governor Maura Healey’s top advisor on education and helps shape the Commonwealth’s education agenda.
Before being sworn in as Secretary, Dr. Tutwiler served as the senior program officer at the Boston-based Barr Foundation, a grantmaking organization focused on arts, climate and education, where he specialized in developing new high school models that will have a positive impact across the entire school system. He has more than twenty years’ experience in public education as a high school history teacher, as a high school principal and as the superintendent of the Lynn Public Schools. As Lynn Superintendent, Secretary Tutwiler led a collaborative, equity-centered effort that resulted in increased graduation rates, decreased push out rates, a more racially diverse faculty and staff, and the establishment of Massachusetts’ second largest early college program. He earned a BA in history from The College of the Holy Cross, a master’s in education from Harvard University Graduate School of Education, and a PhD in curriculum and instruction from the Lynch School of Education at Boston College. He lives in Andover with his family.