PRESS RELEASE: Four candidates announce runs for Newton School Committee

Parents, advocates, and educators are running for Newton School Committee to be new voices for change

For immediate release.

NEWTON, Massachusetts. March 31, 2025.

Four Newton residents—all first-time candidates—have announced campaigns for the November 2025 elections for Newton School Committee. They are running to bring positive change to the schools, and they share a commitment to collaborative leadership, clear communication, and fresh ideas. Jenna Miara is running for the open Ward 5 seat; Mali Brodt seeks the open Ward 6 seat; Bruce Hedison is a candidate for Ward 7; Jim Murphy will seek election as the Ward 8 representative. Miara, Brodt, Hedison, and Murphy will advocate for Newton students, Newton educators, and the broader community. 

The candidates recognize the current approach isn’t working and that Newton schools urgently need new energy and creative solutions. They bring a fresh perspective on the role of the School Committee: they see School Committee members first and foremost as advocates for the schools. They will take on key issues that face our schools and provide a strong voice for the funding and resources needed to ensure an excellent education for all Newton students.

Miara, Brodt, Hedison, and Murphy bring expertise that is currently lacking or underrepresented on the School Committee. Their combined experience in public service, law, contract negotiation, and education will fill key gaps, enabling the Newton School Committee to more effectively ensure that Newton Public Schools thrive.

Initial public support for the candidates has been strong: within two weeks of forming their election committees, the candidates have received more than 50 donations, raising over $14.5k dollars.

The candidates bring needed expertise and experience to the School Committee

• Jenna Miara (Ward 5) is a legal aid lawyer, community volunteer, proud alumna of Newton Public Schools, and a mother of two NPS students. Her work experience gives her a collaborative approach to problem solving and a deep understanding of effective contract negotiation with unions. 

• Mali Brodt (Ward 6), a parent of three NPS students and an adjustment counselor (school mental health provider) at Westwood Public Schools, brings 20 years’ experience as a front-line educator. She will use her expertise to enhance the School Committee’s understanding of student academic and social-emotional needs. 

• Bruce Hedison (Ward 7) brings a demonstrated track record of innovation in hands-on STEM education and community-based learning. A 33-year veteran of the Hudson Public School system, Bruce is a successful local business owner. 

• Jim Murphy (Ward 8) understands the nuances of what makes public schools run well: a retired educator, Jim served for 3 decades in teaching and administrative positions in the Weston, Everett, and Weymouth Public Schools.

Galvanized by the strike, the candidates recognize the need for a positive, ambitious vision for Newton schools

Like so many in the community, all four candidates were deeply pained by last year’s school shutdown due to failed contract negotiations. The strike motivated them to "get off the sidelines" and take action. They saw a critical need for new voices, fresh perspectives, and more effective communication and collaboration among all parties. The candidates are not interested in relitigating the strike or assigning blame. Instead, they want to ensure the community never experiences that kind of division and hurt again. Their priority is to help adults work better together for the sake of Newton’s students.

The conversation about the future of Newton schools has too often been dominated by discussions of how to do less with less. These candidates believe Newton deserves better. Their campaigns are driven by a hopeful and ambitious vision for thriving schools. They aim to face the real challenges head-on, with optimism, creativity, and innovation. They want to shift the discussion toward growth, excellence, and new possibilities, ensuring Newton schools remain places where all students can succeed.

The candidates’ shared vision for thriving schools is in step with the values of Newton residents

Miara, Brodt, Hedison and Murphy share a common vision:

1. Trust and transparency are integral to the school district’s partnership with the community. The community’s trust in school-district budgeting and educational  excellence must be restored. 

2. The School Committee works in partnership with educators and other municipal officials to ensure strong schools. The candidates will work to restore a cooperative relationship with both educators and with City Hall.

3. Outstanding schools and educational equity are both core to Newton’s identity. All four candidates are unapologetic advocates for educational excellence for all students. 

4. Being a valued part of a community is foundational for student success. All four candidates will advocate for strong mental health services, attention to social-emotional wellbeing, and civic learning that underpin belonging and ensure that every student can thrive.

The candidates are doing their part to ensure a thriving democratic process by running an innovative, collaborative campaign 

Miara, Brodt, Hedison, and Murphy are all first-time candidates, stepping up to run in part as a vote of confidence in the local electoral process. Running for School Committee presents significant challenges for first-time candidates—including fundraising demands, complicated campaign finance rules, and city-wide campaigning. To overcome these hurdles, the candidates have formed an innovative partnership. Connected by their shared vision for a thriving school system that ensures educational excellence for all students, the four independent candidates will share ideas, pool resources, and work collaboratively to advocate for Newton Public Schools. 

The Newton Chapter of the League of Women Voters has been actively encouraging first-time candidates to enter municipal elections and has identified contested elections as a key component of a healthy democracy. Inspired by the League of Women Voters to become more engaged in local civic efforts, and using their How to Run for Office guide, Lindsey Gulden, a Newton parent, business owner, and friend of the candidates, volunteered to serve as treasurer on the four individual campaigns.

Bruce advocates for NPS students still recovering from the effects of Covid-19

NPS budget deficit remains: Brezski stakes clear position, Mayor indicates some funding increase possible

These comments followed similar ones made predominantly by educators at the School Committee’s March 19 public budget hearing, including from Bruce Hedison, a Newton resident who has launched a campaign website to be a School Committee representative. Mr. Hedison lives in Ward 7 (Chestnut Hill and Ward School area), according to the address given during his public comment, and stated he worked in Hudson, MA for 33 years, including as a union president. He cited NPS students still recovering from the effects of Covid-19 and stated “it is not fair what happened …but we just need to move forward from today and be there for our kids.” 

Bruce expresses confidence in NPS administration, concerns over cuts. Asks to pass budget to address lingering effects of Covid

"I'm deeply invested in the quality of education that we provide for our students in Newton. I'm here, in front of you today, to express my profound concerns regarding the budget for NPS. Superintendent Anna Nolan requested a budget to address the pressing needs of our schools. And even that isn't enough.

I sat in all three of the budget hearings and I heard from all the department heads and the assistant superintendents. They were transparent, honest, knowledgeable. I've never met such competent administrators. And I really feel that if these cuts are made, it's going to be detrimental to our system.

I believe the money can be found and it has to be a priority because we are finally getting close to address the challenges of Covid-19. We need to be for them in the classroom. We need to get them caught up. We need to be there for the kids in our community.

I'm really hoping this board puts through the Superintendent's budget."

Bruce Hedison retires from teaching but not from public service

 

Logging Off from Hudson High

Bruce Hedison Retires

Bruce Hedison will be the first to tell you that he comes off as a “curmudgeon”, but any student who has had him over his 33-year teaching career in Hudson knows that he is an innovative, caring, passionate teacher who is the reason so many of the STEM electives exist at this school…even if he’s too modest to admit it.

Hedison first started teaching at Hudson High right out of college in 1990 as an architecture teacher. The next year, he was moved to the middle school where he taught wood shop. 

Hedison describes it as “controlled chaos.”

“I had 14-30 7th-8th grade students with four bandsaws, two table saws, electric sanders, you name it with no ventilation…so I had to run a big fan and blow the sawdust out the back door,” Hedison recalls

As he tells this story of the woodshop with sarcastic wit, a change of demeanor washes across his face as he smiles, recalling fondly the experience.

“It was a great experience and I loved seeing what the kids could create. I’ll never forget one of the best days was a reindeer basket project, and it was the day before winter break and all the kids are walking home from school, carrying the reindeer baskets they made that they’d be giving as gifts. That was a highlight,” he said

Prior to Hedison taking over the woodshop program, students were only allowed to use handsaws. He showed them the proper way to use power tools.

In 1995 he was asked to go back to the high school to teach the robotics program when Hudson received a National Science Foundation Grant. The robotics program we have today started because Hedison took it over.

In time, he began teaching Architectural Design, and Graphic Design programs.

“When I came back to the high school we didn’t have Architectural Design and Graphic Design so over time I brought them back and now we have all three classes that the students can take,” said Hedison.

Soon new teachers needed to be hired. There were waiting lists to get into a Hedison design or robotics course.

Hedison attended the University of Massachusetts Lowell (then, Lowell State and Technological Institute). At the time he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps in engineering since he admired his father’s job at Raytheon as a designer of short-range missiles.

He later realized that architecture is what he really wanted to study and to teach it. He would transfer to Fitchburg State for technology education. After that, his first teaching job was here in Hudson, where he has been since.

One of Hedison’s best memories at Hudson High was when he first chaperoned juniors and seniors on the Amazon field trip with his good friend and colleague June Murray in 2012. 

“It was an eye-opening, wonderful experience, and I loved sharing the experience with the students of Hudson High.”

Hedison greatly appreciates the people that he has met in the Hudson School District.

“The relationships that I have formed with the students and the faculty over the years have been one of the best parts,” Hedison said.

Hedison also described how he loves to see the students grow up and change over the years.

“I enjoy seeing the students coming here in the 8th grade and when they leave as a 12th grader seeing how they have matured how they found a direction in life and if they took my classes how that has helped them form their future,” Hedison says 

Outside of school, Hedison is a real estate agent. Once he leaves Hudson High in June he will continue to do property management and design kitchens and baths for people. He is looking forward to continuing this job and helping people out. He still has an active woodshop license and working with his hands brings him joy.

He also is looking forward to not waking up early in the morning for school.

“Something I will not miss is waking up at 5 am,” Hedison said. 

Students at Hudson High love how real he is with them; he is able to talk to the students and joke around. 

“He’s a very laid back and chill teacher which was part of the fun during the class, he has a good sarcastic humor and is able to joke with his students. Even though it’s my last year he still made me want to come to class, it was a great way to end before going off to college,” said Tanner Cutler.

As his last day approaches, he leaves this advice to students and staff.

“Don’t make assumptions. Treat everybody how you’d like to be treated. Everyone will make mistakes, that’s just reality and people do change,” Hedison concluded.