Yvonne M. Spicer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yvonne Spicer
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| 1st Mayor of Framingham, Massachusetts | |
| In office January 1, 2018 – January 1, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Charlie Sisitsky |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 30, 1962 New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Divorced |
| Alma mater | |
| Profession | Educator |
Dr. Yvonne Michelle Spicer, born on June 30, 1962, is an American educator and politician. She made history as the first mayor of Framingham, Massachusetts. She was also the first African-American woman to be elected mayor in Massachusetts. She served from January 1, 2018, until January 1, 2022. Before becoming mayor, she worked at the Museum of Science in Boston.
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Early Life and Education
Yvonne Spicer grew up in Brooklyn, New York. She was the third of four children. When she was six, a visit from Shirley Chisholm inspired her. Shirley Chisholm was an important leader. This visit showed Yvonne the importance of helping others.
Yvonne's father passed away when she was ten. She started working at 13. Her first official job was at McDonald's. She also helped her mother clean houses during summers. She went to Catholic middle school. Then she graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School.
Yvonne earned her first college degree in 1984. It was a Bachelor of Science (BS) in industrial arts and technology. She got her Master of Science (MS) in technology education in 1985. Both degrees were from the State University of New York at Oswego. She was the first African-American woman to graduate from there. In 2004, she earned her doctorate degree. This was in Educational Leadership from the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Her Career
Working in Education
After college, Yvonne moved to Framingham, Massachusetts, in 1985. She started as a woodworking teacher. She worked in Framingham Public Schools for 16 years. She taught many subjects. These included drafting, architecture, and photography. She became the Chair of Technology Education. She was the first woman to hold this position.
Later, she worked for the Massachusetts Department of Education. She was the Statewide Technology and Engineering Coordinator. She also spent five years as a director in the Newton Public Schools. In 2006, Yvonne joined the Museum of Science in Boston. She became the vice president for Advocacy and Educational Partnerships. She created and led this important division.
Her Political Journey
Yvonne Spicer was active in her community. She served on the Framingham Human Relations Commission. She was also part of the Democratic Town Committee. In 2016, she was elected to Framingham's Town Meeting. She helped make decisions for the town.
In November 2017, Framingham decided to change its government. It went from a Board of Selectmen to a mayor and City Council. Yvonne Spicer was elected as Framingham's first mayor. This was a big moment for the town. Senator Elizabeth Warren held the Bible for Yvonne's swearing-in ceremony. This happened on January 1, 2018.
Yvonne was also chosen for important state councils. Governor Deval Patrick appointed her to the Massachusetts Governor's STEM Advisory Council in 2010. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Governor Charlie Baker reappointed her in 2017.
On November 2, 2021, Yvonne Spicer ran for re-election but did not win. Her term as mayor ended on January 1, 2022. Charlie Sisitsky became the new mayor.
Important Awards
Yvonne Spicer has received many honors for her work:
- In 2000, NASA chose her for an aerospace engineering program. This was for technology educators.
- She was named Framingham State University's Global Education Teacher of the Year in 1993.
- She received an award from the Anti-Defamation League in 1995. It was called the "A World of Difference" Teacher Incentive Award.
- In 2009, she was named one of "Women to Watch" by Mass High Tech. This was a journal about technology in New England.
- She was President-Elect for the International Technology Engineering Education Association (ITEEA) in 2017.
