Meet Kate.

 

Photo: TDM Photography

A former public school teacher and education attorney, Kate has dedicated her professional career to public service.

During her time as State Representative, Kate has ensured that the 32nd Middlesex District (Melrose and parts of Wakefield and Malden) is represented by someone who believes passionately about the role government can play in supporting individuals and their families; who listens carefully and works hard for her constituents; and who gets things done.

Growing up, both of Kate’s parents were newspaper reporters, and family dinner conversations often included discussions of events happening at the local, state, and national levels. She learned early on that the policies our elected officials enact have powerful, long-lasting effects on communities and people. Kate’s first job was as a seventh-grade public school teacher in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood of Atlanta. After graduating from Harvard Law School, she worked as a judicial clerk in the federal courts; a legal consultant for states, school districts, colleges, and nonprofit organizations on efforts to improve outcomes for children and students; and as the Chief Legal Counsel at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Education. Prior to joining the State House, Kate was a Melrose City Councilor-At-Large where she raised the bar for resident engagement, created the role of and served as the liaison to the School Committee, and oversaw the City Council’s budget process.

Kate became the Commonwealth’s first “COVID Rep” following a special election in March 2020 and was re-elected to a full term that fall. In her first full term, Kate was selected by her peers to serve as the Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, another first as a Representative who never before had been on a legislative committee. During her tenure in the House, she has been the lead sponsor on a variety of successful policy initiatives - expanded eligibility and significant funding for older students with disabilities to access special education, authorization for state and local candidate's’ use of campaign funds for childcare, increased tax deductions for rental costs, and enhanced protections and quality assurances for long-term care and assisted living residences, among other.

For the 2025-2026 legislative session, Kate was selected to serve as Chair of the House Committee on Ethics. She further is the House Chair of the Emerging Technology Legislative Caucus and an Executive Board Member of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators. She has filed more than 30 bills on a variety of issues including education, veteran supports, housing affordability for seniors, cryptocurrency, and digital data privacy.

 Kate lives in Melrose with her family.

Career

Melrose City Council
City Councilor-at-Large

Mass. Executive Office of Education
Chief Legal Counsel

EducationCounsel LLC
Senior Legal and Policy Advisor

U.S. House Committee on Education & Labor
Legal Intern

First Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals
Judicial Clerk

Atlanta Public Schools/Teach for America
Seventh Grade Teacher

 

2025-26 Assignments

Chairperson, House Committee on Ethics

Member, Joint Committee on Financial Services

Education

Harvard Law School
Juris Doctor, magna cum laude

University of Virginia
Bachelor of Arts, English, and Bachelor of Arts, History, with distinction