Former Speaker Pro Tempore, Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives

Representative, Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives, District Fifth Bristol, 2001-2025

Candidate, Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives, District Fifth Bristol, 2022

House Assistant Majority Whip, Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives, 2008-2010

Member, Caucus of Women Legislators, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Former Member, Ethics Committee, Massachusetts State House of Representatives

Former Member, Joint Committee on Rules, Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives

Former Member, Rules Committee, Massachusetts State House of Representatives

Former Chair, Joint Committee on Education, Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives, 2004-2008

Customer Service, Haddad Electronic Supply, Incorporated, 1986-2000

Health/Fitness Teacher, Town of Somerset, 1972-1986

Chair/Vice Chair, Somerset Democratic Town Committee, 1987-present

Member, Board of Directors, Moby Dick Council Boy Scouts

Member, Drug Free School Advisory Council

Member, Health Access Collaborative

Member, Legal Aid Budget Working Group

Member, South Coast Development Partnership Steering Committee

Member, Southcoast Business & Professional Women's Association

Member, The Neighborhood Corporation of Taunton

Member, University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth Center for Policy Analysis Advisory Committee

Member, Weir Economic and Industrial Revitalization Corporation

Chair/Vice Chair, Somerset School Committee, 1993-2001

Member, Somerset Recreation and Playground Commission, Town of Somerset, 1987-1989

Awards:

AWARDS

2014 Human Service Provider's Council of Massachusetts
Caring Force Award

2014 Massachusetts Association for Behavioral Health
Exemplary Leadership Award in support of Outpatient Behavioral Health Services

2013 South Coast Health System
Hero for health Award

2013 March of Dimes
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Humanitarian Award

2013 Community Counseling of Bristol County, Inc.
Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Support & Dedicated Service

2013 Massachusetts Association of Early Education & Care
Award for Outstanding Legislative Achievement

2013 Massachusetts Hearing Aids for Children Coalition
Distinguished Legislator Award

2012 Massachusetts Nurses Association
Special Award for Legislative Advocacy

2012 BLIND Award
National Braille Press

2012 Beacon of Justice Award
Equal Justice Coalition and the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation

2012 YouthBuild Champion Award
Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition

2011 Legislator of the Year
Service Employees International Union # 509

2011 Abigail Adams Award
Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus

2010 CO OP Community Award
Co op Disabilities Services

2010 Doctor of Public Administration
Massachusetts Maritime Academy

2009 Public Service Award
Massachusetts Association of Chapter 766 Approved Private Schools

2008 Dr. Adrian Rondileau Award for Professional Achievement & Community Service
Bridgewater State College Alumni Association

2008 Distinguished Service to Public Education Award
JFY Networks

2008 Presidential Citation Award
Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance

2008 Mass Bio-Ed Award
Massachusetts Bio-Education Association

2007 Activist for Public Schools Award
Citizens for Public Schools of Massachusetts

2006 Reading Advocate Award
Massachusetts Reading Association

2006 Champion of Arts Education
Massachusetts Alliance for Arts Education

2006 Pre-Kindergarten Champions Award
Pre-K Now of Massachusetts

2006 Teacher Leader Award
Reading Recovery Council of Massachusetts

2005 Outstanding Legislative Achievement
Massachusetts Association of Day Care Agencies

2005 Woman of Achievement Award
Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Pageant

2005 Legislator of the Year
Massachusetts Association of School Committees

2005 Head Start Volunteer Award
Head Start of Massachusetts

2005 Advocate for Excellence in Literacy Award
Reading Recovery Council of Massachusetts

2004 Pillar of Justice Award
South Eastern Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation

2004 All-Star Recognition Award
Massachusetts Family Planning Association

2004 Profiles in Courage Award
Massachusetts Middle Level Educators Association

2004 Friend of Education Award
Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators Association

2003 Legislator of the Year
Bristol County Bar Association

2003 Outstanding Legislator Award
Massachusetts Coalition for Social Justice

ACCOLADES & CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION

2010 Massachusetts Marine Trades Association

2010 Massachusetts Advocate of Mentoring

2009 Massachusetts Mentoring Partnership & Massachusetts Service Alliance

2008 Taunton-Attleboro W.I.C. Program

2007 South Eastern Economic Development District

2007 Citizen Schools of Massachusetts

2005 Together for Kids Coalition

2005 Coalition for the Responsible Siting of LNG Facilities

2003 Somerset Housing Authority

2003 Dighton Lions Club

Hobbies or Special Talents:

Skiing, Cooking, Leisure Reading