13th Norfolk News

Are you a high school student seeking to better your community? Do you care about local and state issues? Are you actively interested in government? Apply for Representative Tarsky’s Youth Council! Parents, grandparents, guardians, and educators, please share this with your student.

On April 9, 2026, I rose for the first time on the House floor to speak on an issue I’ve lived, as a teacher, principal, and now legislator. Cell phones and social media are reshaping our schools. I’ve seen students coordinate fights in real time, classmates record each other at their worst moments, and teachers leave the profession after videos were taken out of context. But I’ve also seen what happens when we get this right: more focus, better behavior, and students talk

If passed, the TEACH-MA Act would introduce a statewide program designed to recruit, certify and retain teachers committed to three years of service in Massachusetts public schools. Program fellows would be placed in high-need districts and hard-to-fill subject areas, and provided mentorship, a stipend, and the promise of a reduced-cost master’s degree upon completion.