I am excited to endorse Kyla McSweeney and Sravan Krishna for Hopkinton School Committee.

As an autism educator with The Arc of Massachusetts and the parent of a child with disabilities, I’ve learned that schools work best when relationships come first. When students feel known, families feel heard and educators feel supported, learning has a better chance to take root. That is especially true for students with disabilities, but it is true for every child.

That is why I care so deeply about school leadership. I want people who understand that inclusion is not a slogan, and equity is not optional. It has to show up in the budget, in hiring and in the everyday decisions that shape a school community. When we include all students, everyone benefits. Diversity brings strength.

Kyla McSweeney has shown that kind of commitment. She has focused on protecting student‑facing services, especially special education. She’s listened to different points of view and worked to make sure the district stays true to its promise to serve all students. She also understands the importance of supporting teachers and administrators so they can do their jobs well. Her background in early childhood education, leadership and policy, special education law and public service gives her a strong foundation, but what stands out most is how she has used that experience to stay close to the work and the people most affected by school decisions.

Sravan Krishna brings a different but equally important perspective. He’s served on several town boards and brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in technology. That matters now, because schools must think carefully about AI. The question is not whether these tools will be part of our future. The question is whether we use them with care, ethics and the understanding that human judgment still has to lead. Sravan’s background makes him well suited to help the district think critically about those choices. He also brings a commitment to inclusion and to making sure every student has access to the support they need.

Both Kyla McSweeney and Sravan Krishna understand that trust is the secret sauce for strong schools. It helps students take risks, families stay engaged and educators do their best work. It also makes it possible to have hard conversations without losing sight of shared purpose.

I am glad to support them both.

— Betsy Johnson, M.Ed., Hopkinton

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