MassEdCO staff members have a long history of strong representation on the Board and subcommittees of the Massachusetts Educational Opportunity Association (MEOA), a nonprofit organization made up of educators, policy makers, professionals in the private sector, and other individuals committed to ensuring that secondary and postsecondary educational opportunities are appropriate and accessible to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. (In fact, MassEdCO CEO Pamela Boisvert was a founding member of MEOA in 1984.)
Most recently, Director of GEAR UP Programs Taryn Tomkins served for three years as the membership and marketing chair for MEOA as well as on its Board. During her tenure, membership grew from 91 members to more than 160. Taryn, who previously served as the Board secretary and vice president, saw the Board increase advocacy, fundraising, professional development opportunities and the number of scholarships for deserving students during her years of service.
“It is important to bring your experience and hard work to the Board and do your best to grow the organization,” says Taryn, “but it is equally important to, at some point, step aside and let others join the table with their own unique skill sets and talents. That is how to truly grow and diversify the organization, mentor new professionals to the field, increase membership, and keep our mission alive and well throughout the state.” Taryn will step down as a Board member at the end of the 2013-14 program year.
MassEdCO is pleased that two other employees will carry on the tradition of MEOA involvement. Addison Barwise and Elizabethe Plante, both education advisors at Worcester high schools, are part of the MEOA subcommittee planning its fall 2014 conference at UMass-Amherst on October 9 and 10.