Caroline Hunter
She/Her
Currently: Incumbent
Also: Retired
Election history: Seeking 3rd Committee Term
She/Her
Currently: Incumbent
Also: Retired
Election history: Seeking 3rd Committee Term
Caroline Hunter moved to Massachusetts decades ago. She worked as a research bench chemist for the Polaroid Corporation in Cambridge in the '70s, and founded a worker movement that convinced Polaroid to divest from Apartheid.
She retired in 2010, after decades of working in education in a wide range of roles, from math teacher to Assistant Principal of CRLS. She also co-founded the Benjamin Banneker Charter School.
Her child attended Cambridge Public Schools from Kindergarten through High School.
Caroline first ran for School Committee in 2021; she was seated in 2022 after Akriti Bhambi resigned. She is currently serving as vice chair (the chair is automatically the Mayor of the City Council).
Caroline Hunter has not made statements against the superintendent search. She supported Sanchez when voting among the finalists.
In her questionnaires and in live settings, she has affirmed her support for differentiated instruction, monitoring and routine reporting of student progress, and ensuring staff accountability and responsiveness to caregivers.
As a classroom teacher at Cambridge and Latin, I dealt with this issue. I was responsible for developing curriculum, for adjusting the lessons, and for differentiating instruction within the classroom. In one of my freshman algebra classes, I had a a significant number of students with special needs programs, which meant that classroom came with a specialized educator with a background in math and special education. So, it's not a unique situation.
Pedestrian and cycling safety, policy, infrastructure, governance
Pedestrian and cycling safety, policy, infrastructure, governance
Lengthy panel on progressive issues; 12 respondents. This is the first year this has appeared.
Lengthy panel on progressive issues; 12 respondents. This is the first year this has appeared.
A two-panel candidate night hosted by the Cambridge Advanced Learning Association focused on achievement gaps and advanced learners.
A two-panel candidate night hosted by the Cambridge Advanced Learning Association focused on achievement gaps and advanced learners.
Roundtable discussion focused on "why" candidates want to run
Roundtable discussion focused on "why" candidates want to run
Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association School Committee Candidate Night 2025
Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association School Committee Candidate Night 2025
Hunter pushed back on the criticisms of the search process, claiming that the steps that made up the search – the bidding process, the direct contracting of The Equity Process and public forums – were aboveboard.
“The superintendent search process was the search that the full committee voted on,” she said.
Nov. 2, 2025Hunter pushed back on the criticisms of the search process, claiming that the steps that made up the search – the bidding process, the direct contracting of The Equity Process and public forums – were aboveboard.
“The superintendent search process was the search that the full committee voted on,” she said.
A letter with the heading of “sole source procurement justification” was sent to the purchasing office Aug. 15, identified as coming from the Cambridge Public Schools and the Office of the School Committee, led by mayor E. Denise Simmons and vice chair Caroline Hunter.
Requests for comment were left with Simmons and Hunter on Thursday and Friday by email and phone, but there were no immediate replies from either.
Oct. 24, 2025 — Julia CarpiA letter with the heading of “sole source procurement justification” was sent to the purchasing office Aug. 15, identified as coming from the Cambridge Public Schools and the Office of the School Committee, led by mayor E. Denise Simmons and vice chair Caroline Hunter.
Requests for comment were left with Simmons and Hunter on Thursday and Friday by email and phone, but there were no immediate replies from either.
School Committee member Caroline M.L. Hunter said that Cambridge schools “haven’t done a good job” teaching children how to read, “particularly for black and brown children, for immigrant children, for children with individualized education programs.”
Oct. 10, 2025 — Dionise Guerra-CarrilloSchool Committee member Caroline M.L. Hunter said that Cambridge schools “haven’t done a good job” teaching children how to read, “particularly for black and brown children, for immigrant children, for children with individualized education programs.”
Not everyone was on board with Murphy.
“He’s not my first choice, nor my second,” said Mayor E. Denise Simmons, who chairs the committee, and said she had concerns that he was “not an instructional leader.”
Simmons and member Caroline Hunter, who is the committee’s vice chair, backed Sanchez.
Oct. 6, 2025 — Spencer Buell and John HilliardNot everyone was on board with Murphy.
“He’s not my first choice, nor my second,” said Mayor E. Denise Simmons, who chairs the committee, and said she had concerns that he was “not an instructional leader.”
Simmons and member Caroline Hunter, who is the committee’s vice chair, backed Sanchez.
While School Committee members were made aware of both the scam and the domestic abuse allegations earlier this summer, the group has yet to take public action based on the allegations.
According to the same district official, the School Committee decided to refrain from public comment based on informal advice from a city attorney. The official said members were advised to refrain from commenting publicly on the private lives of candidates, since it could leave the body vulnerable to a lawsuit.
Oct. 1, 2025 — Shawn A. BoehmerWhile School Committee members were made aware of both the scam and the domestic abuse allegations earlier this summer, the group has yet to take public action based on the allegations.
According to the same district official, the School Committee decided to refrain from public comment based on informal advice from a city attorney. The official said members were advised to refrain from commenting publicly on the private lives of candidates, since it could leave the body vulnerable to a lawsuit.
When vice chair Caroline Hunter was asked about the search for an external firm, Hunter responded that all important information was already public record, and she declined to comment further.
Sept. 29, 2025 — Julia CarpiWhen vice chair Caroline Hunter was asked about the search for an external firm, Hunter responded that all important information was already public record, and she declined to comment further.
Candidates also looked at the 20 percent loss in student body that takes place during the transition from elementary to upper schools, as Cambridge kids move to private and charter schools.
Vice chair Caroline Hunter cited a lack of diversity in teaching staff, and challenger Luisa de Paula Santos agreed that “a system that segregates by class and race will always lead to this kind of attrition.”
Sept. 22, 2025 — Julia CarpiCandidates also looked at the 20 percent loss in student body that takes place during the transition from elementary to upper schools, as Cambridge kids move to private and charter schools.
Vice chair Caroline Hunter cited a lack of diversity in teaching staff, and challenger Luisa de Paula Santos agreed that “a system that segregates by class and race will always lead to this kind of attrition.”
Cambridge election commissioners Ethridge King, Charles Marquardt and Thomas Stohlman said there was not ample proof that Hunter does not live primarily in Cambridge.
“I think there’s sufficient evidence to say that Ms. Hunter’s domicile is in Cambridge, and she lives part time in a summer house,” Marquart said during the ruling.
Sept. 10, 2025 — Julia CarpiCambridge election commissioners Ethridge King, Charles Marquardt and Thomas Stohlman said there was not ample proof that Hunter does not live primarily in Cambridge.
“I think there’s sufficient evidence to say that Ms. Hunter’s domicile is in Cambridge, and she lives part time in a summer house,” Marquart said during the ruling.
At a School Committee meeting last week, Mayor E. Denise Simmons said that four finalists had been selected and would be announced on Monday. The announcement arrived on schedule — but with a surprise.
Only three finalists were announced in a message sent out by Simmons and School Committee vice chair Caroline Hunter, who are helping run the search.
It is unclear what prompted the change, and Simmons and Hunter did not respond to inquiries from The Crimson on Monday evening. In total, seven candidates were interviewed as semifinalists for the position, according to Monday’s announcement.
Aug. 12, 2025 — Ayaan AhmadAt a School Committee meeting last week, Mayor E. Denise Simmons said that four finalists had been selected and would be announced on Monday. The announcement arrived on schedule — but with a surprise.
Only three finalists were announced in a message sent out by Simmons and School Committee vice chair Caroline Hunter, who are helping run the search.
It is unclear what prompted the change, and Simmons and Hunter did not respond to inquiries from The Crimson on Monday evening. In total, seven candidates were interviewed as semifinalists for the position, according to Monday’s announcement.