Luisa de Paula Santos
She/Her
Currently: Early Childhood Paraeducator in Somerville Public School
Election history: 1st-time candidate for School Committee
She/Her
Currently: Early Childhood Paraeducator in Somerville Public School
Election history: 1st-time candidate for School Committee
Although born in Brazil, Luisa de Paula Santos grew up in Miami and remained there through college. She moved to Massachusetts around 2018 to pursue a master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University.
Since 2023, de Paula Santos has worked as a paraeducator for young children with autism, first at Fletcher Maynard Academy in Cambridge and now in the AIM autism program in Somerville. Before entering education, she worked with several labor unions, including SEIU, where she helped recruit union members from Cambridge schools.
Luisa de Paula Santos’s platform emphasizes equity, transparency, and community participation. She supports independent public audits to address racial and disability-based disparities in discipline, stronger oversight of district hiring, and participatory models that give educators, parents, and students a greater voice in decision-making.
Luisa is opposed to tracking, and instead emphasizes resources: her proposals centering on students start with comprehensive, individual support through improving the educator:student ratio, hiring more psychologists and social workers, and using wraparound services to connect school and home life.
To fund these priorities, de Paula Santos calls for reforming the residential property tax exemption, increasing commercial taxes, strong-arming Harvard and MIT to pay more taxes directly, and drawing on Cambridge’s financial reserves.
| Organization | Cambridge? | Union? | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Residents Alliance | this cycle | ||
| Cambridge Education Association | |||
| Our Revolution Cambridge | this cycle | ||
| Cambridge Families of Asian Descent |
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.
If Cambridge schools should adopt (or adhere to possible state adoption) of the IHRA definition
If Cambridge schools should adopt (or adhere to possible state adoption) of the IHRA definition
Forum run by the Cambridge Education Association union
Forum run by the Cambridge Education Association union
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
“There needs to be some sort of metrics for evaluating administrators that include, were they able to diminish the number of out-of-school suspensions for students of color? Were they able to diversify the student body?” she said. “Not just including students in the school, but really making sure that there is belonging for every student at the school.”
Oct. 20, 2025“There needs to be some sort of metrics for evaluating administrators that include, were they able to diminish the number of out-of-school suspensions for students of color? Were they able to diversify the student body?” she said. “Not just including students in the school, but really making sure that there is belonging for every student at the school.”
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.”