Meet School Committee candidate Aaron Olapade

How many years have you lived in Medford?
Twelve years; since I was thirteen.

Please describe your professional background and education.
Youth Employment Director - City of Malden; prep high school aged students for life-post grad as they gain paid work/employment experience 

Professional Staff - Pine Manor Institute for Student Success at Boston College; mentor high school and college aged youth for academic and personal development.

BA in Political Science 

What, if any, city positions (appointed or elected) have you held, and for how long?
School Committee Member, 2 years; Medford Comprehensive High School Building Committee (MCHSBC), 1 year; Staff Community Liaison to Medford’s BIPOC neighbors for the Medford Health Dept. during COVID, 1 year.

What volunteer roles have you participated in that you feel have made a difference in Medford?
Medford Conversations Table Facilitator Mystic Valley NAACP Youth Coordinator (Former), Mystic Valley NAACP Executive Board Member (current) Am2pm Youth Community Service and Leadership Program Staff and Peer MentorTrustee - Sanctuary UCC 

Why should residents vote for you?
Residents should vote for me because I bring both lived experience and results. As a person of color, the child of a single parent, a student with the experience of an IEP, and a team captain in both high school and college I know firsthand what it means to rely on strong public schools. More importantly I believe deeply in the power of young people to influence their own outcomes.

On the School Committee, I have delivered. I chair our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Subcommittee, have championed policies to protect immigrant and LGBTQIA+ students, and pushed for sustainable practices like ending fossil fuel equipment purchases. I have served on multiple search committees to find the best candidates for Medford’s Central Administration, am a voting member of the Comprehensive High School Building Committee and have begun work to bring composting to our schools. 

Beyond the many student-centered policies implemented over the past two years, I’ve helped secure a YouthWorks grant from the state to launch a Medford Youth Employment Program, partnered with our SEPAC to establish a Medford BestBuddies branch, supported the Medford Youth Summit, and celebrated our city’s diversity through arts, culture, and community events. 

I’m running to ensure our schools ensure equitable access, remain well-resourced, and empower every student for success and opportunity. 

Tell us … 

Why are you running or running again for the School Committee, what changes do you believe you can facilitate?
I’m running for re-election because I believe in the promise of public education and in the young people of Medford. As a student who needed the support of a strong, multi-faceted public school system, I experienced firsthand what education can make possible and how important teachers, administrators, and progressive policies are to a student’s success. I also know how fragile that promise is right now. 

Municipal public education has a target on its back, with state and federal funding repeatedly on the chopping block. We can’t allow austerity to dictate the future of our children. I’m running again to protect resources for our schools, to prioritize equity so that every child—regardless of background—has access to opportunity, and to continue creating pathways where students can see themselves as leaders. I want to push forward on improved teacher diversity, student voice in decision-making, and programs that empower kids not just to learn, but to lead - in the classroom and in their city.

I have benefited directly from the Medford Public School system, and I am running to ensure that for others and to continue to be of service to a cause greater than myself. 

What do you see as the top issue with the School District?
As you can imagine, any and all issues that the school district faces could be considered a ‘top’ issue for certain members of our community, whether that be disability services, financial limitations, robust and up-to-date curriculum, afterschool care, transportation and bus service, college readiness, athletic and arts program access, etc. That being said, I have become especially concerned with the question of: Student Opportunity. 

Student Opportunity—both financial and structural. We are being asked to educate students with fewer and fewer resources each year, while student needs grow more complex. Rising costs in special education, facilities, and staffing collide with flat or shrinking revenues. Without a strong strategy, we risk doing more with less until we’re simply doing less. 

But the issue isn’t only financial. It’s also about equity and trust. Families and students need to believe that our district can deliver excellence to every child, not just those who can navigate the system best. We must tackle achievement gaps, improve communication, and invest in supports that meet the full range of student needs. 

Investing in a new high school for example is not just a construction project — it’s a long-term commitment to student success and student opportunity, working towards the future of the community. Modern facilities provide safe, accessible, and innovative learning environments that match the needs of today’s students, from updated vocational workspaces and cutting-edge technology to spaces that support the arts, athletics, and career pathways. A new high school also helps attract and retain talented educators, fosters community pride, and ensures that every student has the tools to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. For a public school district facing growing demands and limited resources, this investment is both practical and necessary to meet current challenges and to secure opportunities for generations to come. 

With potentially deep cuts in federal funding and a local budget stretched thin –what are your budgeting priorities and how do you propose to make them happen?
My budgeting priorities are clear: 
1. Classrooms before bureaucracy – Protect teaching positions, class sizes, and student programs first. 
2. Equity in resources – Ensure that funding prioritizes students who need the most support, including English learners, special education students, and low-income families.
3. Long-term investment – Advocate for funding structures that sustain—not just patch—our schools, including pursuing state aid, educational grants from nonprofits, and partnerships with local institutions. 

To make this happen, we need political will. Budgets are moral documents, and if we say we value kids, we need to back it up. I will continue pushing the city to prioritize schools, while also mobilizing the community to advocate at the state level. Medford can’t afford to be passive—we must claim our agency to demand the resources our children deserve. 

What role should the community play in supporting the education of children?
Education is not something schools can do alone. Community is the bedrock of strong schools, and strong schools fuel strong communities. Families, local organizations, businesses, and civic leaders all have a role to play—from mentoring and internships to volunteering and advocacy. 

Most importantly, the community must use its collective voice to defend public education from cuts and neglect. If we want our children and youth to feel empowered, they need to see adults in their lives standing up for them—whether that’s showing up at budget hearings, voting for school funding, or simply encouraging young people to believe their voices matter. 

Something I learned during my ‘City Year’ is the spirit of Ubuntu — “I am because we are.” When we embrace Ubuntu, we recognize that every child’s success is tied to our shared responsibility and collective strength. Together, we can remind our kids that they are not an afterthought, but the heartbeat of Medford’s future. 

What book is currently on your nightstand? (just for fun) Full disclosure, I am not much of a hold-a-book-in-your-hands reader (to my family's dismay), but I have been powering through this Gen Z inclination. I am currently cycling through 3 ‘books’: "Law School Confidential" by Robert H. Miller - "The LET THEM Theory" by Mel Robbins - LSAT Prep Resources from various authors/organizations