Mayor Menino Appoints School Committee Members

Today, Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced the re-appointment of both Helen Dájer and Elizabeth Reilinger, Ph.D. to four-year terms as Boston School Committee Members.

"The School Committee plays a vital role in the partnership between the School Department and the community. I am extremely pleased today to re-appoint two hard-working citizens that have devoted their careers to supporting families in the city of Boston," Mayor Menino said. "Helen's work on the Student Assignment Task Force highlighted her commitment to parent involvement in our school system. And for years, Liz has helped to provide stable environments for families to grow while providing our young people with opportunities for educational achievement."

Dr. Reilinger was first appointed to the Committee by Mayor Menino on January 3, 1994 and has served as Chair of the Committee for the past seven years.

A resident of the Back Bay, Dr. Reilinger has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Crittenton Inc., since 1986. Crittenton is one of Boston's oldest nonprofit community based organizations, which assists individuals and families to develop the tools to attain and sustain economic independence.

Dr. Reilinger is a former Associate Dean of Boston University and former faculty at Boston University, Cornell University and Ithaca College. She also is a national consultant on non-profit management and Health and Human Service policies and systems.

A resident of Jamaica Plain, Ms. Dájer currently has three children who attend the Rafael Hernandez K-8 School in Roxbury, where she is actively involved as a parent volunteer. She was raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico and is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Ms. Dajer is a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, DC, where she received both a B.S. and an M.S. in Nursing. A certified nurse midwife, Ms. Dajer is employed at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates in Boston. In addition to her clinical duties, Ms. Dajer has also worked as a Diversity Ambassador at Harvard Vanguard, facilitating diversity workshops for staff.

Mayor Menino will swear in Ms. Dájer and Dr. Reilinger at the inauguration ceremony at Fanueil Hall on January 2, 2006.

The Boston School Committee is a seven-member board, which governs and sets policy for the 145 Boston Public Schools. Any Boston resident is eligible to apply for a position. A 13-member citizens nominating panel accepted nominations this fall before recommending candidates to Mayor Menino in early December. Mayor Menino interviewed finalists before making his selection.