Styer Retiring as Framingham Public Schools Director of Health & Wellness

FRAMINGHAM – Framingham Public Schools Director of Health and Wellness Judith Styer will retire at the end of the school year.

“Styer has devoted the last 22 years of her professional career to serving the needs of Framingham’s culturally and linguistically diverse students in the Framingham Public Schools, as a School Nurse for the first 7 year and for the last 15 years in the Central Office first as the Director of School Health Services and then as the Director of Health and Wellness,” wrote the district in a press release.

“Styer has always placed the well being of children – their physical, mental, and social emotional well being – at the forefront of her work. With poise and expertise, she guided the District through unprecedented times during a global pandemic,” said the district in a press release.

“She collaborated extensively with city and community partners and also ensured that the District received significant grant money to push forward work that strove to evaluate and improve students’ access to physical and mental health resources,” said the district in a press release “Styer oversaw school nurses, school social workers, school counselors, and school psychologists, and it was her even manner, kindness, and compassion that made her a great listener and consistent and steady thought partner.”

“Under Ms. Styer’s leadership, the Department of Health and Wellness has expanded Student Support Personnel and School Health Services; pioneered PreK – Grade 8 Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curricula and programming; led and developed the District’s Code of Character, Conduct, and Support alongside the former Assistant Director of Health and Wellness, Stacey Cugini; founded the Social Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) Team to support academic achievement and social emotional growth for all students, as well as provide consultation services surrounding behavior challenges; offered ongoing Professional Development to staff; and so much more,” wrote the public school district in a press release.

“When I reflect on my time in Framingham as a member of the leadership team with Judy, I am amazed at the number of initiatives that we have been addressing together with our district and school teams,” said Framingham Superintendent of School Bob Tremblay.

“From learning from our students and families about habits, challenges, and needs through survey tools, to addressing vaping in our schools, to the rollout of a Code of Character, Conduct and Support as a more restorative approach to student behaviors, to addressing the social, emotional, and mental health trauma that is present in our school community and which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic, I wonder how we could have ever done this work without her. Ms. Styer is the consummate professional and her expertise, collaborative style, and strong research and communication skills will be missed. I wish her well on this next leg of her journey. She has indeed earned some time to rest!,” said Tremblay in a statement.