José Luis Rojas Villarreal
He/Him
Currently: Incumbent
Also: Managing Director, LEAF
Election history: Seeking 4th Committee Term
He/Him
Currently: Incumbent
Also: Managing Director, LEAF
Election history: Seeking 4th Committee Term
José Luis Rojas Villarreal was first elected to School Committee in 2019. He has lived in Cambridge for 25 years, and his sons attended CRLS and Amigos. He served on School Councils for seven years and has a background in community development finance and banking.
José Luis also has extensive experience serving on various non-profit and community boards. He is bilingual and places an emphasis in multicultural experience.
José Luis wants to address challenges in differentiated instruction on multiple fronts. While he wants to invest in strengthening foundations in literacy and math at earlier grade levels, he also believes in offering multiple pathways for students (e.g., Algebra 1 in 8th grade, more time/support for others).
He voted against reintroducing Algebra to the 8th grade curriculum.
José Luis has also expressed support for exploring use of AI to personalize learning. He wants to use data and community feedback to adjust policies. He also wants to expand successful bilingual immersion, Montessori, and experiential learning.
It's true that in CPS classrooms, we often see a wide range of abilities, sometimes several grade levels apart. Meeting that diversity of needs requires multiple strategies.
Functional School Committees support the Superintendent in implementing the district's strategic plan. This support ranges from ensuring enough resources are available to questioning why some goals are not being met. Functional School Committees do not get lost in operational questions that interfere with the day to day operations of the district and teachers.
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
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.
The lowest was rejected because the firm was “not even close” to meeting the district’s minimum requirements, as committee member José Luis Rojas Villarreal put it at the committee’s March 19 meeting.
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Mayor E. Denise Simmons and members Rojas and Rachel Weinstein did not respond to emails or phone calls.
Sept. 29, 2025 — Julia CarpiThe lowest was rejected because the firm was “not even close” to meeting the district’s minimum requirements, as committee member José Luis Rojas Villarreal put it at the committee’s March 19 meeting.
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Mayor E. Denise Simmons and members Rojas and Rachel Weinstein did not respond to emails or phone calls.