Dr. Mariel Novas

Senior Advisor, Organizational Development & Equity

One of our top priorities at BPS is to ensure we are fully addressing the barriers to equity and that our equity work is a throughline across the organization. In her new role, Dr. Novas advises Superintendent Skipper and her leadership team on matters involving organizational development, as well as the district’s capacity to lead through an anti-racist lens. Dr. Novas also partners with department heads and division Chiefs to drive continuous improvements in day-to-day business processes.

Dr. Mariel Novas is an educator and justice advocate who promotes healing, equity, and community empowerment through coalition-building and organizing. An immigrant from the Dominican Republic who was both a student and later a teacher in the Boston Public Schools, Mariel’s career has taken her from the classroom to city government. Most recently, Mariel led learning and community engagement efforts at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston after having served as Mayor Michelle Wu’s Transition Director, where she spearheaded an expedited and historic transition. As Director of Partnerships & Engagement for Massachusetts at The Education Trust, she convened the Massachusetts Education Equity Partnership (MEEP), a statewide coalition of civil rights, social justice, and education advocates advancing educational and racial equity in historically underserved communities.

Before Ed Trust, she launched the Homegrown Program at Teach For America-Massachusetts, co-founded the Boston Education Action Network, and joyfully served as a middle school ESL math teacher in Dorchester. Mariel holds a doctorate in Education Leadership (Ed.L.D) from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a Master's in Curriculum & Teaching from Boston University, and a Bachelor's in History & Ethnicity, Race, and Migration from Yale University.

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