About Matt

Schools are at the heart of the Belmont community. Like so many residents, my wife Amanda and I chose to raise our children in Belmont because of the close-knit community and the excellent public schools. I am a dad to two kids attending Burbank Elementary, an enthusiastic in-town and travel soccer coach with the Belmont Soccer Association, and a former member of the BPS Return to In-person Learning Working Group. I have dedicated my career to supporting and improving public schooling in the United States. Now, I am running for School Committee to serve our town and provide experienced, knowledgeable leadership during a critical time for our schools.

My goal for the School Committee is to build on the strengths of Belmont schools, while pushing for continuous improvement.

We have a unique opportunity to reflect on where we are as a school system and renew our strategic priorities to achieve excellence for all students. I will take an evidence-based approach to making decisions and assessing the results of our efforts. I will be willing to ask hard questions and always remain open to diverse perspectives.

As an economist of education and former teacher, I understand how public education works at many different levels.

I started as a tutor and substitute teacher, taught high school humanities, and completed my doctorate at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. I am now a professor at Brown University where I teach the economics of education and education policy analysis. This range of experience gives me rare insight into how district-level policy decisions impact students’ and teachers’ experiences inside the classroom.

I have a strong understanding of public education finance and the high-stakes tradeoffs districts face when budgets are tight.

I bring insight gained from managing multi-million-dollar projects and conducting cost-benefit analyses of education investments. Inflationary pressures and the end of federal Covid aid make every budget line-item for Belmont Schools a consequential decision. I have the experience necessary to help navigate us through this time of highly constrained resources without compromising the quality of our schools. We owe it to students, educators, and taxpayers to get the most out of every dollar we spend, while operating within our means.

My research focuses on concrete, practical questions about what works in K–12 education — questions that are directly relevant for Belmont Schools.

I have partnered with districts across the country to study a range of efforts to elevate instructional quality and build a thriving teacher workforce. My research is closely related to several of the specific areas in need of improvement identified by Superintendent Geiser such as 1) meeting the academic needs of all students through individualized instruction and support systems, 2) strengthening professional development via teacher coaching, and 3) maintaining collaborative family partnerships with excellent communication.

Numbers matter, but ultimately this work is about people. I promise to be a School Committee member who listens, learns, and serves with humility. I am fully committed to this work, both personally and professionally.

I ask for your vote on April 2nd for School Committee. It would be an honor to serve the residents of Belmont in this capacity.