Patrick Tutwiler

As Massachusetts Secretary of Education, Dr. Patrick Tutwiler directs the Executive Office of Education, which oversees early education, elementary and secondary education, 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 state's education agenda.  

Before being sworn in as Secretary, Dr. Tutwiler served as the senior program officer at the Boston-based Barr Foundation, a grant making organization focused on arts, climate and education. Prior to that, Secretary Tutwiler was superintendent of the Lynn Public Schools and a headmaster in the Boston Public Schools. As superintendent of Lynn Public Schools, he spearheaded a collaborative, equity-centered effort that translated into higher graduation rates and a more racially diverse staff, while also overseeing the creation of one of the Massachusetts's largest early college programs. Dr. Tutwiler began his career in education as a high school history teacher at Brighton High. 

Since his appointment in 2023, Secretary Tutwiler has led efforts to stabilize and heal across every level of education while sowing the seeds for transformation - moving toward realizing an education system that delivers a high-quality education to every student, regardless of zip-code, background, or circumstance. This work is built on five core values: advance equity and inclusion, maintain a holistic perspective, embrace collaboration, champion innovation, and center fulfillment.

Secretary Tutwiler champions several key initiatives across the education spectrum:

• Gateway to Pre-k: advancing affordable, accessible and equitable early education and child care 
• Literacy Launch: reading success from age 3 through grade 3 
• Reimagining high school 
• Affordable and diverse higher education: expanding access and increasing persistence