The BPO is wholly dedicated to the education of our public school children. It will bring the thoughtful, passionate voice of parents to the issues that bear on their children's education. It will represent the interests and insights of parents who wish to cultivate and nurture an environment of creative teaching and child-centered learning in our schools. Recognizing that the student-teacher relationship is foundational to a quality education, the BPO will represent this point of view to the School Committee, the Public Schools of Brookline Administration, the Brookline Educators Union, Town Meeting, the Select Board, School Councils, and PTOs. The BPO will advocate for open relationships between teachers, administrators, parents, caregivers, and students as well as for transparency in matters of budget, new initiatives, and goals.
The BPO will do this through creating a forum for sharing information and ideas among parents and school-specific parent organizations. It will offer a platform allowing parents to work together effectively toward common goals and secure an influential voice in the formation of policies that affect the education of their children. The BPO will review the performance and proposals of existing and candidate School Committee members and offer voting guidance to parents.
The BPO is currently led by a five-member Board of Directors who consult with our Advisory Board and membership. If you're interested in learning more about the BPO, please send us an email.
Co-Chair
Lauren is a founding member and Co-Chair of the BPO (created in 2016) and has worked extensively on School Committee elections and tax override campaigns. As BPO Co-Chair, Lauren has advocated for and helped organize conversations on a wide range of issues, such as the importance of recess and play-based learning for kindergartners, evidence-based literacy instruction, post-COVID reopening for in-person learning, and less technology in the classroom for younger children.
Since 2015, Lauren has served as Executive Director of the Daily After School Enrichment Program (DASEP) at the Ridley School. Lauren is passionate about providing opportunities for engaging enrichment activities to all children and has grown and adapted DASEP to include generous tuition assistance for low income and homeless children.
In addition to her work with DASEP and the BPO, Lauren has served her community in many other roles: Town Meeting Member (2011-2022); Member of PSB Expert Advisory Panel 2 (Students’ Social-Emotional Welfare, 2020-2021); Member of Committees on Zoning, Affordable Housing and Design Review for the Coolidge Corner Theater. Since 2022, Lauren has served as Commissioner for Brookline Park & Recreation and is the Commission’s representative to the Pierce School Building Committee. Lauren earned Master Degrees in History from Rice University and in International Affairs from the School of International & Public Affairs at Columbia University, as well as a BA in Political Science & French from Tulane University. Lauren is married with a son who is currently in the 11th grade, and has been a resident of Brookline since 1999.
Co-Chair
I am a parent, resident, and business owner in Brookline and I've been involved with the BPO since 2017. I believe strongly in both public education and the value of Brookline's neighborhood school model, where our children can grow and learn as members of a consistent and nurturing community. I've worked on town wide issues from elections and overrides to recess, gardening, literacy, and more. I firmly believe that our schools must strive towards the unique balance of free play, responsibility, and academic challenge—the pillars of a great education—so that our children can learn kindness and respect as they develop their knowledge, agency, and critical thinking.
Board Member
Beth Gilligan has lived in Brookline since 2009. She has two daughters who attend the Driscoll School, where she currently serves as PTO Co-Chair and previously served on Driscoll School Principal Search Committee. Beth is also a board member (VP, Fundraising) for the Brookline Education Foundation and served on the BEF Executive Director Search Committee. She is a past Town Meeting Member and has been active in several local School Committee and override campaigns. Beth received a M.A. in film studies from the University of East Anglia (United Kingdom) and a B.A. in English Literature from Trinity College (Hartford, Connecticut).
Board Member
Sadaf grew up in Brookline and is a proud product of the Brookline Public Schools. She moved back to Brookline in 2019 with her husband and two young daughters, who now attend the Lawrence School - just like she did. Sadaf serves on the Lawrence School site council and is a member of the Brookline Expenditures & Revenues Study Committee. Sadaf is passionate about public education and wants to ensure that her children and other PSB students receive an excellent education here - one that is challenging, teaches critical thinking, and enables students to live up to their academic potential. Sadaf has a BSE from the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering, a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and an MBA from The Wharton School.
Board Member
Danna Perry has been a dedicated Public Schools of Brookline (PSB) parent for more than 13 years. She has long been an advocate for PSB issues including post-COVID reopening, evidence-based literacy instruction, special education, anti-bullying efforts, and antisemitism awareness. Before her election to the Brookline School Committee on May 6, 2025, Danna was a regular presence at Thursday night meetings, where she advocated for accountability, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and equitable access to high-quality education and enrichment for all students. Danna grew up in Coolidge Corner and, after spending time in New York City, Cape Cod, and the Bahamas, returned to Brookline to enroll her two children in kindergarten. They are now in 11th and 12th grade. Professionally, Danna has focused on building effective systems, improving processes, identifying efficiencies, and fostering strong two-way communication and follow-through - skills she brings to her work on the School Committee.
Vice Chair, Brookline Select Board
David is a near-lifelong Brookline resident and K-12 graduate of the Public Schools of Brookline. He served as a member of the Brookline School Committee for over 6 years and as Chair for 2 years in addition to serving on several other Town-level committees. David is a child welfare attorney at the trial and appellate levels and is a graduate of Brandeis University and Boston University School of Law.
Co-President BHS PTO, TMM P6
Jeff is a technology executive and an active member of the Brookline community. He has served as a member of multiple town override committees and led the YES campaign for the new Pierce School and operating override in 2023. Jeff has two children in the Public Schools of Brookline. He is a graduate of Purdue University and has an MS/MBA from Boston University.
Superintendent, Brockton Public Schools
Dr. Tahiliani is a seasoned education administrator having served as Superintendent of the Brockton Public Schools, Everett Public Schools and as the Assistant Superintendent overseeing the Office of English Learners for the Boston Public Schools. Dr. Tahiliani began her career in 2001 as an English Language Arts teacher in Charlestown and is a graduate of Boston University. She is a Brookline resident and PSB parent.
School Committee Member
Dr. Bob served as the Head of School at Brookline High School from 1992-2011, and as a professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Columbia University Teachers College and Boston University. He is a co-founder and current board Chair of the Calculus Project, a New York City native, and the parent of three alumni of the Public Schools of Brookline.