The Future of Public Education in Massachusetts
Launch Breakfast 

Thanks to the 150+ supporters who attended the Launch Breakfast!

More than 150 educators, policymakers, funders, industry leaders, and community partners gathered at The Boston Foundation to celebrate the official launch of the statewide course sharing model phase of Campus Without Walls and a bold new vision for expanding educational opportunity across Massachusetts. The event featured inspiring remarks from our distinguished speakers and a panel of education and industry experts, whose leadership and commitment to educational innovation helped bring this vision to life. We are deeply grateful to our event sponsors, donors, and philanthropic partners whose investments continue to make this work possible.

The morning also marked the exciting announcement of Milly Arbaje-Thomas as President and CEO of Campus Without Walls, ushering in the organization’s next chapter of statewide growth and impact.

About the Event

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

8:30-10:30 AM

Edgerley Center for Civic Leadership at the Boston Foundation
75 Arlington Street, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA

What if high school students could access advanced courses, exceptional teachers, and career-connected learning—regardless of their zip code and school assignment?

Across Massachusetts, a new model is breaking down barriers between schools—expanding access to advanced academics, culturally relevant and specialized courses, and student-driven, career-connected learning.

Join The Boston Foundation and Campus Without Walls, in partnership with the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy and Mass. Business Alliance for Education, for a dynamic breakfast convening with a growing network of educators, industry partners, funders and cross-sector leaders shaping what’s next in public education.

About Campus Without Walls

Campus Without Walls (CWW) is a groundbreaking statewide initiative that uses technology to reimagine how public education is delivered across Massachusetts. We imagine a Commonwealth where every student, whether in Greater Boston, the North Shore, the South Shore, Western Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the islands, or anywhere in between can learn from exceptional educators, explore high-growth careers, and shape a personalized learning pathway aligned to their future.

Our mission is to transform how education is delivered by connecting schools, educators, and industry partners through a statewide virtual learning consortium that ensures equitable access to excellent teaching, career-connected learning, and student agency – so every learner can shape their own educational journey, regardless of zip code, school assignment, or district resources.

Featured Speakers

Program Overview

8:30 am – Breakfast 

9:00 am – Program Begins

Opening Remarks 

• Lee Pelton, President & CEO, The Boston Foundation
• Ayele Shakur, Co-Founder and Chairman, Campus Without Walls
• Ron Walker, Campus Without Walls Interim Director and Strategic Advisor 
• Milly Arbaje-Thomas, President & CEO, Campus Without Walls
• Rob Consalvo, Massachusetts State Representative
• Mary Skipper, Superintendent, Boston Public Schools

Message from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)

• Regina Robinson, Special Assistant to the Commissioner of Education for Stakeholder Engagement and Outreach, DESE

Panel Discussion: Redesigning Public Education for the Future

• Chad d’Entremont, Executive Director, Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy (Moderator) 
• Dr. Angela Hedley-Mitchell, Chief of Teaching and Learning, Boston Public Schools
• Anne McKenzie, Superintendent, Hadley Public Schools
• Beth Anderson, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Phoenix Charter Academy Network

All Star Celebration: Teachers & School Recognition 

• Milly Arbaje-Thomas, President & CEO, Campus Without Walls

Voices from the Field: Educators, Students, and Industry Partners

Panel Discussion: Career Pathways and Industry Partnerships

• Ron Walker, Campus Without Walls Interim Director and Strategic Advisor, and Former Massachusetts Secretary of Labor & Workforce Development (Moderator) 
• Ed Lambert, Executive Director, Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education
• JD LaRock, President & CEO,  Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)
• Alice Avanian, Founder, Co-Chair Financial Literacy Initiative, CFA Society Boston
• Dr. Meredith Quinn, PhD, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Franklin Cummings Tech

Closing

• Ron Walker, Milly Arbaje-Thomas, Ayele Shakur

Our School Partners

Meet the Teachers

Career Pathways Partners 

Thank You to Our Event Partners & Supporters