Calling all elected officials, educators, and community leaders! Join us for a conversation highlighting: Rhode Island’s Civic Funding Bill. Panelists will specifically share how Massachusetts’ dedicated civic education fund has produced positive tangible, measurable outcomes demonstrating what’s possible for ROI with an investment in civic programming for the state’s youth.

Presented by: Rhode Island Civic Learning Coalition and the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island

Meet the Panelists

Kelly Siegel-Stechler, Ph.D.
Director, Collaborative Discussion Project, Interactivity Foundation

Kelly is the Director of the Collaborative Discussion Project at the Interactivity Foundation (IF), which provides resources and support to help enhance collaborative learning in classrooms, workplaces and communities. Prior to joining IF, she was Associate Director for Research at CIRCLE at Tufts University, leading work in civics education and youth electoral engagement. She has also led several non-profit programs in global and social studies education at the United Nations Foundation, Louis August Jonas Foundation, and Foundations for Leadership. Kelly holds a PhD in Education from Johns Hopkins University, and her research focuses on the role of experiential learning, classroom discussion and school climate in shaping young peoples’ long-term civic development and democratic engagement.

Senator Rebecca Rausch
MA - Norfolk, Worcester, Middlesex

Becca Rausch is the Massachusetts State Senator representing the Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex District. She is the third woman, the second Democrat, and the first Jewish person to hold her seat. Senator Rausch was elected in November 2018 and sworn into office on January 2, 2019. Prior to her election to the Legislature, Senator Rausch worked for over a decade as a practicing attorney.

Her work spanned both the private and public sectors, including several years at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, where she earned a Citation for Outstanding Performance. Senator Rausch is also a former elected local legislator, union steward, and law professor. Her areas of expertise include health law and policy, information governance and knowledge management, and data privacy and security.

The granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor and a published author on reproductive health and justice and body size and the law, Senator Rausch is a lifelong advocate for social justice, fairness, and equality for all. She holds degrees from Brandeis University (B.A.), Northeastern University School of Law (J.D.), and the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (LL.M.).

Senator Rausch lives in Needham with her husband, their two young children, and a dog.

Kristen Tabacco
Assistant Director of Curriculum & Instruction, History PreK-12
Lynn Public Schools

Kristen Tabacco is the current Assistant Director of Curriculum & Instruction for History PreK-12 in the Lynn Public Schools, just north of Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to her role in administration, she taught history in Lynn for 10 years at the middle and high school level. She holds a BA in history from UMASS Boston, and an M.Ed.in curriculum & instruction from UMASS Lowell.  In 2020 she earned her CAGS is Educational Leadership from AIC. The following year this new job in the district was created and she applied to make a greater impact on students via teacher and curriculum development, and developing systems of support for teachers so that the best possible history and social science education can occur for our students. One of the most important parts of her work is supporting the Civic Action Project across all secondary schools. Lynn Public Schools hosts school-based days at all 9 schools, and hosts a large District Civics Day, going on year 5 in 2026. LPS has been award the MA Civic Teaching and Learning Grant since FY21, and has broadened the impact of this grant to support civics based experiential learning, K-2 Civics Curriculum, engagement with speakers, supporting the Investigating History curriculum development, and more.

Geraldo “Jerry” Acosta Jr.
Lead Civics Teacher
Lawrence High School

Geraldo “Jerry” Acosta Jr. is a history educator and Lead Teacher at Lawrence High School in Lawrence, Massachusetts, where he supports the implementation of high-quality civic learning across the school. Through his work with Generation Citizen, he has helped strengthen schoolwide civic education infrastructure, expand teacher participation, and support student-led advocacy efforts recognised at Local and State Civics Day.

Under his leadership, students have presented policy proposals at city council meetings and local police stations, successfully advancing initiatives that led to the passage of local ordinances and mayoral signings. Jerry works closely with teachers, administrators, and community partners to ensure civic education is rigorous, inclusive, and accessible, particularly for multilingual learners. His experience demonstrates how dedicated civic education funding improves instructional quality, builds sustainable systems, and translates into meaningful, measurable student outcomes. As a Latino educator, Jerry is especially committed to ensuring that civic education funding reaches students who have historically had limited access to high-quality civic learning opportunities.