Sarah Friedman

About Sarah Friedman

I currently serve as Chief of Education Strategy for the City of Central Falls. I work for the Mayor and the community to return control of the school system to the people of Central Falls after the longest state takeover in US history, 34 years. I have worked to raise close to $1 million in the last two and a half years, led research driven by deep community engagement with over 700 individuals as well as a community advisory board of over 20 community leaders spanning all parts of the education sector. We published a comprehensive report, My Heart is Here October, 2024, passed legislation establishing an effective date for a return to local control, changed the city home rule charter to reflect a community-designed governance model, and led a new community-designed appointment and election for school board. In May 2023, I graduated with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Harvard University. I have a current Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent and School Administrator license. I completed my Superintendent residency as Special Advisor to the Superintendent of the New Bedford Public School. Prior to Harvard, I spent 24 years in leadership roles in urban public education including system level leadership, policy and school leadership. I co-founded a K-8 independent, public charter school in Central Falls, RI and served as Co-director for 16 years. The Learning Community serves 589 students, over 80% of whom qualify for free or reduced price lunch, 96% students of color, and over 30% English language learners. Our students, educators and families work as a community to close opportunity gaps, and build close relationships with one another. Prior to the school, I worked in two large district initiatives in the Providence public schools focused on professional development and mental health. I am currently in the third year of my doctorate in Educational Leadership at Harvard, in residency as special advisor to the Superintendent of the New Bedford Public Schools. I am pursuing my Superintendent license alongside my doctorate. I intend to be of use in the traditional education sector as a district leader where I can use my prior experience to be part of the critical work of educational Justice for all children, especially those who have been marginalized from opportunity.

Experience

1. Consultant

   Learning Heroes Us

   Jan 2022 — Present

   I am a member of the launch team of the Family Engagement Leadership Institute, supporting school and district leaders in family engagement.

Education

• Harvard University

  Doctor of Education - EdLD, Public Education

• Brown University

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, American/United States Studies/Civilization