Jessica Boston Davis
Interim Assistant Superintendent for Academics
Somerville Public Schools
Dr. Jessica Boston Davis is an educator committed to equity with a variety of experiences in traditional public schools, charter schools, philanthropy, higher education, and international education. Jessica is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Academics at the Somerville Public Schools in Somerville, Massachusetts. She is also adjunct faculty at Lesley University. Jessica is a 2019 graduate of the Doctor of Education Leadership (EdLD) program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. While at Harvard, Jessica served as the president of the Black Student Union. She was awarded with the Harvard University Certificate of Distinction in Teaching for her work as a teaching fellow at Harvard College.
She was also awarded with the Torch Bearer Award for Excellence in Leadership within the Black community at Harvard. Prior to studying at Harvard, Jessica was the founding principal of Life Academy, a turn-around school in Newark, New Jersey. While Jessica served as principal, Life Academy was recognized as a “proof-point for an effective restart” and Life Academy was profiled by the Wall Street Journal for the academic growth made by students. Prior to becoming a principal, Jessica taught in Newark, New Jersey and Brooklyn, New York. Internationally, Jessica has worked in schools in Johannesburg, South Africa and Nairobi, Kenya. She earned an Ed.M. in Education Policy and Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Jessica also earned a M.S. in Teaching at Hunter College. Jessica is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Spelman College. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In her free time, Jessica loves to spend time with her husband Justin, and their sons, Daniel and Darius.
Overview
Somerville Public Schools, in partnership with Somerville Education Foundation, the Somerville Food Security Coalition, and Stock Pot Malden, will offer free, ready-to-serve, delicious, healthy, locally-sourced, and culturally-representative meals to students and families. Meals will be offered twice a week after school during evening dinnertime hours. Kids and families will be able to enjoy a meal on site at the East Somerville Community School or take meals on the go.
East Somerville is a vibrant community within the city of Somerville. It is a predominantly immigrant and Latinx community, many families speaking Spanish as their home language with other home languages including Brazilian Portuguese and Haitian Creole. Somerville is a Sanctuary City home to immigrants from around the world. Food insecurity is a growing concern in the East Somerville community, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this need. The project team will develop multilingual materials and utilize our multipronged communications strategies to engage low income and immigrant community members who are more vulnerable to becoming food insecure.
