Website: http://www.rodrigoforwayland.com/
Candidate Statement:
Dear Wayland friends and neighbors,
I’m excited to be a candidate for Wayland’s School Committee. I’m a mom to three elementary-aged children, an intellectual property attorney, and an active DEI and social justice volunteer. I am running for School Committee because I’m dedicated to maintaining the high quality academic environment and warmhearted community that make Wayland’s schools among the best in Massachusetts.
Wayland is a special place, and one that so many families choose because of the exceptional quality of education provided by the public school system. I’ve enjoyed volunteering in various roles in my children’s schools to better appreciate how our teachers shape their values, knowledge, and skill sets. I would now like to serve in a more impactful role.
My parents raised me with a deep sense of civic responsibility. As the daughter of an immigrant growing up in a home where only one parent graduated from high school, becoming an attorney or living in a place like Wayland was never on my radar. Though my parents couldn’t help guide my future career, they instilled in me the values I needed to succeed: determination, integrity, and the confidence to achieve anything.
What my parents couldn’t provide academically, my exceptional teachers did. A strong and supportive network of educators and mentors helped pave the way for my career success, earning degrees in Chemistry from Smith College (B.A.) and Yale University (Ph.D.), before graduating from Boston College Law School. After working for nearly seven years at a leading intellectual property law firm, I was tapped to join Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ legal team.
My daily life as an intellectual property attorney requires constant integration of differing viewpoints, balancing factors like legal, financial, and reputational risk. The success I’ve had in my career relies heavily on strong collaboration and problem-solving skills across diverse teams. Right now, developing an active partnership between teachers, administrators and families is crucial for the health and growth of our town.
I look forward to serving on the School Committee and believe my strong track record of service, teamwork, and level-headed decision making will earn your vote. Please visit www.RodrigoforWayland.
