Secretary Steve Zrike

Congratulations to the winners of the MA 250 “Bold Stories, Bright Legacies” K-12 education project!

Gov. Healey and Sec. Zrike welcomed the winners to the State House this week:

🔹Graeme Baker and Sophia Peregrine for their Hingham Shipyard display 🚢
🔹Ira Moghe for her portrait of Amelia Earhart ✈️
🔹Liam and Declan Hunter, Evan French for their Bill Russell project 🏀
🔹Aishwarya Ramanijam for a project on James Otis 🇺🇸

Read more: https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-healey-welcomes-massachusetts-250-student-art-contest-winners-to-the-state-house

Governor Healey released guidance today that outlines clear steps child care providers, K-12 schools, and colleges and universities can take to respond if federal immigration officers arrive on site.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-healey-issues-statewide-guidance-for-schools-child-care-providers-higher-ed-campuses-health-care-facilities-and-places-of-worship-on-interacting-with-ice

Secretary Zrike was honored to recognize a group of future educators last week at Seekonk High School. The school held its annual “Future Teacher Signing Day” for ten seniors who are formally committing to pursuing a career in education. 🎓💫

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education hit the road this week, holding its monthly meeting at Hudson High School.

BESE student member Isabella Chamberlain is a senior at Hudson High and was elected chair of the State Student Advisory Council in 2025.

This week Secretary Zrike, DESE Commissioner Martinez, and Higher Ed Commissioner Ortega attended a community forum on education at Worcester State, hosted by Gov. Healey’s Latino Empowerment Advisory Council. These forums are an opportunity for residents to learn about updates and actions to strengthen and safeguard the community.

➡️For info on upcoming forums, go to Mass.gov/LatinoEmpowerment

That’s a wrap on the 2026 STEM Summit at UMass Lowell!💡⚙️

Educators, students and industry leaders came together to celebrate innovation, collaboration and the future of STEM education in MA. 🚀🔬

Special congratulations to 2026 STEM Teacher of the Year Anna Seiders (4th pic, 3rd from right), a math and engineering educator at Everett High School. 🏆👏

We are making sure no Massachusetts child goes hungry during the summer months.☀️🍏

This funding will support 55 organizations hosting Summer Eats meal sites, providing children with free, healthy meals when they do not have access to school meals.🌞🍌

https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-awards-535000-in-summer-child-nutrition-grants

The updated regulations:

☑️ strengthen child safety standards through updated rules on staff training
☑️ improve transparency, accountability and workforce support
☑️ require more child-centered treatment plans that consider each child’s trauma, history, identity, culture or religion, behavior needs and long-term goals

🔗: https://www.mass.gov/news/massachusetts-approves-comprehensive-revisions-to-residential-program-regulations

Secretary Zrike and DESE Commissioner Martinez visited the Early College program at Veritas Prep in Springfield during National Charter Schools Week.

“It was so inspiring to see Veritas Prep students participating in Early College and to learn how the experience is shaping their confidence and plans for the future,” Zrike said. ✨🎓