WORCESTER—When Maureen Binienda joined the Worcester School Committee in 2023, she was hardly new to city schools. A former superintendent and longtime South High principal, she’s now seeking a second term with a focus on safety, academic excellence, and transparency.
“Worcester Public Schools are at a pivotal moment,” Binienda said in an interview with The Worcester Guardian. “I want to continue using my experience to help move the district forward.”
She said her four priorities are improving school safety, advancing academic excellence, ensuring budget accountability, and strengthening partnerships between schools and the community. “Together, these goals will help create safe, supportive, and high-achieving schools that prepare every student for success,” she said.
Binienda spent 46 years in Worcester schools — as teacher, assistant principal, principal, and superintendent — experience she said helps her ask “the questions others might not think of.” That reputation has made her a detailed and sometimes “challenging” presence on the committee, something she views as an asset.
“When I ask tough questions, it’s to make sure we’re making the best possible decisions for our students and families,” she said. “It’s accountability, but it’s also advocacy.”
She pointed to her lone dissenting vote earlier this year — opposing the superintendent appointment without a formal search — as an example of her focus on process and public trust. “Selecting a superintendent is one of the most important responsibilities we have,” she said. “This isn’t about questioning Brian Allen’s abilities — it’s about ensuring transparency.”
Binienda also called for more community engagement, from public forums to translation services. “Transparency must be a core value of the school committee,” she said. “The public deserves clarity and accountability.”
A Worcester native who began her career as a special education teacher, Binienda said she still loves visiting schools, meeting families, and staying visible. “I’ve always believed in being accessible,” she said. “People know they can reach out to me, and I will listen.”
Looking ahead, she said her focus remains what it’s always been. “Worcester has been my home and my professional community for nearly five decades,” she said. “Serving on the school committee allows me to give back and continue making a difference in the lives of our students.”
This article is part of the Worcester Guardian’s 2025 election coverage. As part of our ongoing series, we are publishing individual candidate profiles and stories related to key issues facing the city ahead of the Nov. 4 municipal election. We have reached out—or are in the process of reaching out—to every candidate running for Worcester City Council and School Committee. If you are a certified candidate and would like to ensure you are included, please contact us at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org.
