Committee Members
Stephen Acosta, Chair
Stephen joins the committee as a lifelong resident and recent graduate of Dedham High School in 2016. He brings a distinct perspective to the committee, drawing from his school experiences, as well as his current work in state government. As an active member and volunteer with several community organizations, Stephen’s work on the committee will emphasize the importance of fostering increased exposure and engagement between the students, schools and the community.
Stephen’s work at the state level brings a meaningful focus on the importance of maximizing public efficiency, while his local ties bring recognition of how much our families and students rely on a strong public school system. Stephen aims to guide the committee towards decisions that will have a meaningful and positive impact towards improving the school experience for all students, and towards creating access to more pathways for students post-graduation.
In addition to being an avid Boston and University of Central Florida sports fan, Stephen enjoys kayaking on the Charles, traveling across the country, and spending time with family and friends.
CURRENT ELECTED TERM: 2023-2026
Laurie Twomey, Vice Chair
Laurie has been a member of the School Committee since her appointment in 2023, serving in official elected capacity since 2024. She and her husband have been residents of Dedham since 2007 and are proud to be raising their two children, both of whom are in DPS, here. Laurie credits her upbringing as the daughter of a Lt. Col. in the US Air Force and an elementary school principal for instilling a passion for learning, which she continues to model at home and work. Laurie brings this same passion in the district through ensuring all students have the opportunity to build a strong academic foundation, a sense of belonging, and have the tools to prepare for them their own life paths.
Laurie has worked professionally as an influencer and leader in the Corporate Leadership Development and Coaching space for over 20 years at various companies such as PwC, Oracle, Cigna and now IDC, where she leads the Executive Leadership Curriculum. There too, she creates a culture of continuous growth and development that is embraced by employees and cultivated by leaders. She’s an advocate for transforming how we look at learning, how we define development, and how we align the goals and desires of our leaders to exceed the needs of our business. Laurie prioritizes this culture for the District, by ensuring the goals of our district leaders' align and meet the needs of our students and teachers while adhering to our District Strategic Plan.
In addition to the School Committee, Laurie has sat on a number of boards and committees within our community including Riverdale PTO, DMS PTO and School Council, Dedham Youth Hockey and as a former member of Dedham Town Meeting. She has a degree in Mass Communications and Journalism from Saint Michael’s College. When not at work, or in meetings, she can be found cheering for her children (and the NE Revs Soccer Team) along various sidelines and rinks, testing out new recipes for her family, reading the latest book from Reese’s Book Club List and thinking about the next theme party for her neighborhood.
Chris Polito
As a lifelong Dedham resident and alumni of the Dedham Public School system, Chris prioritizes transparency and communications throughout the District. His local history, professional knowledge and interest bring valuable insight to his work on the committee.
With a passion for family and friends, Chris has two young children coming into the Dedham school system. A former Oakdale Elementary student who went on to graduate with the Class of 2002 from Dedham High, Chris is able to draw on past work with the Dedham Board of Assessors and his familiarity with both local and accounting processes to help inform policy and budget discussions.
This is Chris’s second term on the School Committee, having been elected in 2021. When not engaged in Town events or spending time with the people he cares about, Chris can be found pursuing his recreational dedication to the game of golf.
CURRENT ELECTED TERM: 2024-2027
Dr. Leah Flynn Gallant
In assuming her role on the school committee, Leah is passionate about working to develop a connected, inclusive environment for student learning. Leah not only brings 25 years experience as a higher education administrator to the committee, she also is trained in facilitating and leading diversity, equity, and inclusion conversations among student and adult learners alike. Leah’s current work helps develop leadership skills that exhibit both empathy and the ability to hold staff equally accountable.
Leah is a firm believer that you cannot have diversity, equity, and inclusion without first belonging - once our children feel that they belong, their academics and social and emotional health skyrocket.
As the parent of a special needs student at Avery Elementary, Leah’s focus as a Committee member is on ways in which we can better bridge the gaps of communication between our schools and our parents and caregivers, particularly those with special needs. She is an advocate for ensuring that students and families are equipped with the resources and tools necessary to ensure that they are getting the very best academic and social experience. Further, she looks to ensure that our schools are providing new paths and opportunities designed to develop students into critical thinkers and empathetic leaders.
Leah and her family joined the Dedham community in 2016 with her husband Jeff. When not out and about the town, Leah enjoys day trips, cooking, baking and the relaxation found in reading a good book.
CURRENT ELECTED TERM: 2023-2026
Joshua Langmead
As an early childhood educator, Josh brings 20+ years experience to his role on the Dedham School Committee. Currently, Josh serves on his school's Instructional Leadership Team, which focuses on delivering an innovative curriculum informed by current research. In his classroom, he strives to create a highly collaborative and inclusive learning environment for students to thrive academically and socially.
Josh is looking forward to leveraging this experience and knowledge to work with the district in building community and positive learning experiences for all DPS students. It’s important to him that the committee’s work is balanced between addressing the present day needs while also building towards its long-term future.
Josh and his family moved to Dedham in 2012 and have 2 children in DPS. Within the community, Josh has served as the Oakdale Elementary PTO President, has coached his kid’s teams and is an active leader in his church community. In his spare time, Josh enjoys camping with his family.
CURRENT ELECTED TERM: 2023-2026
Anthony Rodriguez
Anthony is an architectural designer with nearly a decade of experience, specializing in educational facilities and affordable housing. He holds a Master of Architecture degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology and brings a thoughtful, design-oriented perspective to school planning and community development. His expertise in planning, cost analysis, and inclusive design has helped create learning environments where every student has the tools they need to thrive—academically, emotionally, and socially.
Anthony is a firm believer in ensuring that all children receive personalized support, access to mental health resources, and an education that prepares them for real-world careers and college opportunities. Anthony is a strong advocate for safe, modern school facilities where students feel secure and teachers can focus on teaching. He supports the development of clear, proactive facilities plans and believes in transparent communication with families and the broader community.
Before joining the School Committee, Anthony served as a non-voting member of the School Building Rehabilitation Committee and was also part of the Planning for Success 5-Year Strategic Planning Team for Dedham Public Schools. Since moving to Dedham in 2020 with his husband, Anthony has been an integral part of the community, volunteering regularly at the Dedham Food Pantry and having served as a Town Meeting Member. In his free time from work and volunteering, he enjoys working on small home improvement projects, traveling to Maine, spending time with family, friends, and his friendly dog Cooper.
CURRENT ELECTED TERM: 2025-2028
Kaitlyn DeStefano
Kaitlyn has been a proud Dedham resident for 12 years and is honored to join the School Committee. Prior to her election, she served nearly five years as Co-President of the Greenlodge Elementary PTO. Her commitment to the Dedham school community also includes serving as an ex-officio member of the School Building Rehabilitation Committee, and participating on both the School Council and the Principal Search & Hire Committee at Greenlodge School. She is also an active volunteer with Dedham Youth Baseball.
Before returning to Dedham from Washington, D.C., Kaitlyn worked for a decade as a University Librarian. She brings that same deep appreciation for education and lifelong learning to the School Committee.
Kaitlyn is committed to fostering welcoming, safe, and inclusive school environments for all students, faculty, and staff. She also prioritizes transparent communication with families and community members, and is dedicated to supporting continuous progress in Dedham Public Schools.
Outside of her volunteer work, Kaitlyn enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cheering on the Red Sox, and baking—especially after a day at the ballfield.
CURRENT ELECTED TERM: 2025-2028