Press Release  The Healey-Driscoll Administration Appoints New Labor Member to Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

EVERETT —  Today, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced they are appointing Dálida Rocha to serve in the AFL-CIO labor seat on the state’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE).

Rocha is a Cape Verdean immigrant, mother of three, UMass Boston graduate, resident of Worcester and an active labor advocate. She is currently the executive director of Renew U.S. Rocha has served as a political coordinator and the political director of the New England District of SEIU 32BJ, the largest property service workers union in the nation with more than 175,000 members. Rocha joined SEIU after working as director of the Youth Jobs Coalition, known today as I Have a Future, where she advocated successfully for investing and expanding youth job opportunities across Massachusetts. Rocha also served as the field director for the Yes on 4 for Safer Roads Campaign, which kept the Work and Family Mobility Act in place and ensured all drivers on the road are tested, licensed, and insured, regardless of immigration status.

Governor Maura Healey is appointing Rocha to the AFL-CIO seat vacated by member Darlene Lombos, who is focusing on her roles as executive director for Community Labor United and executive secretary-treasurer for the Greater Boston Labor Council. Rocha joins current BESE members Michael Moriarty and Dr. Erika Fisher in representing Massachusetts residents, students, and educators from Central and Western Massachusetts.

“Making Massachusetts more affordable, equitable, and competitive for everyone is at the core of our administration. I’m proud to appoint members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, like Dálida Rocha, who share this commitment,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Her experience in labor is crucial to Massachusetts’ success in building out our workforce pipelines. I am grateful for the work of the Board in the first year of our administration and look forward to their continued success in meeting the moment for our students and their families.”

“We look forward to all that Dálida Rocha will accomplish for students and their families as she serves in the labor seat on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Every student deserves the opportunity to learn and pursue a successful career path here in Massachusetts, and Dálida Rocha’s expertise in labor will surely lend itself to achieving that for our students.”

“I am thrilled with Governor Healey’s appointment of Dálida Rocha, and I look forward to working with her on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to make Massachusetts the best it can be for our students,” said Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler. “I am ready to learn from her perspective and from her lived experience representing hardworking families so that we can better serve not only our students, but their families as well.”

“We welcome Dálida Rocha with excitement and open arms and look forward to the voice she will bring to the table with her seven years working in labor, her lived experience in career technical and vocational education, and her perspective as a proud alumna of Madison Park High School of the Boston Public Schools,” said Chair Katherine Craven.

“School prepares our students to learn key skills so they can then enter the workforce. I am thrilled to bring my experience in labor to the table on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education so we can ensure all Massachusetts students can achieve successful future careers, regardless of their backgrounds,” said Dálida Rocha. “English learners represent more than 10 percent of our students and are one of the fastest growing groups of students in Massachusetts' schools. As a proud Cape Verdean immigrant who learned to speak Cape Verdean Kriolu, Portuguese, Spanish and English, I will work hard to make sure we are creating equal opportunities for all of our students to thrive.” 

“I am thrilled that the Healey-Driscoll administration is appointing Dalida Rocha to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. She understands the unique challenges faced by students, parents and educators, and brings a crucial labor perspective that will help improve educational and workforce outcomes across the state,” said Chrissy Lynch, President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.  

Rocha was sworn in on Friday, January 19, 2024. She participated as a full voting member at BESE’s meeting today, January 23, 2024. The meeting was held at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s new offices on the third floor of 135 Santilli Highway, Everett. The meeting can be viewed at https://livestream.com/accounts/22459134. The agenda is posted at https://www.doe.mass.edu/bese/docs/fy2024/2024-01/. 

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