LYNN — Deputy Superintendent of Schools Maricel Goris has been selected to participate in a state program geared toward diversifying the educator workforce by preparing leaders to serve as superintendents.

Goris is in Cohort 6 of Influence 100, a state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education fellowship that strives to “increase the racial and ethnic diversity of superintendents in Massachusetts, create more culturally responsive districts and leaders
across the Commonwealth, and promote better outcomes for students,” according to DESE.

The two-year fellowship features monthly training provided by DESE and the Leadership Academy, a national nonprofit that builds the capacity of educational leaders to confront inequities and create the conditions necessary for all students to thrive.

Currently, only 4% of Massachusetts school superintendents are people of color, while 40% of the students served by public school districts are people of color. To address this, and as part of a broader and comprehensive effort to diversify the educator workforce at all levels, DESE launched the Influence 100 program.

“Influence 100 is a successful program in building capacity of education leaders through a cohort model to address the needs of our increasingly diverse student population,” said Goris, who came to Lynn Public Schools in 2023 after four years as an assistant superintendent in Lawrence.

Prior to that, she served as director of the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) in Newton and as a secondary school administrator in Boston Public Schools.

Goris and the other fellows will review case studies on issues of equity around the state and practice making informed equity-minded decisions that superintendents face, in the context of “What is equitable?” and “Why equity?” she said.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Evonne S. Alvarez will support Goris in a mentor role throughout the fellowship and will be in attendance with School Committee Vice Chair Lorraine Gately at several of the meetings Goris is expected to attend.

“We are excited for this opportunity for Maricel,” Dr. Alvarez said. “The knowledge and experience she gains will not only enhance her professional development, but our district will also benefit from what she brings back from the trainings.”

Goris said she will likely take on an equity project in the district as part of her work during the fellowship.

Influence 100 begins with an orientation on Sept. 19 and there is at least one monthly meeting scheduled throughout the school year.