Akiva Leibowitz, MD for School Committee
Freedom to teach, liberty to learn.
Three months into the Trump administration, our essential liberties are under attack.
We need leadership that is committed to protecting free speech and “freedom to teach” alongside critical inquiry and inclusivity; that sees through complex issues; and that is prepared to listen carefully, diagnose accurately, and solve problems skillfully.
That is why I am running for School Committee.
Please vote for Akiva Leibowitz on May 6th, 2025.
About Akiva
I am a critical care physician at Beth Israel and have been a Brookline resident for the past 10 years.
I am the father of four. Two boys have graduated BHS, one girl is a current BHS student and one is a prospective BHS student.
While medicine is my day job, education has always been a passion, to the extent that I am also a co-founder and former board chair of Hajar Bilingual Jewish-Arab School, one of the very few truly equitable K-12 institutions in Israel/Palestine – an experience that has taught me a thing or two about creating, supporting, and protecting a public educational institution in a highly constrained environment.
Priorities
Meeting every student’s needs
With the understanding that education is not “one size fits all,” I will work with educators to create equitable frameworks that put students and their needs at the center.
Trusting teachers
Over the past few years, I have witnessed multiple politically motivated attacks on Brookline’s phenomenally caring and committed teachers and staff. If we are to successfully partner with educators, we must show confidence in their ability to guide our students into becoming critical thinkers, capable of expressing their innate talents and gifts.
Inclusivity and academic excellence
Education thrives on excellence. But excellence is not limited solely to academic achievements; it also means helping students become freethinking, curious citizens of this world by advancing inclusivity, compassion, and social justice.
Fully funding schools
Budget deficits are not God-given. Data shows that Brookline has decreased the percentage of its expenditures on education over the past 5 years by 2.6%. As a School Committee member, I will advocate for greater sustained investment in our schools.
Endorsements
“Akiva’s life’s work shows that he is consistent in living values we care about in Brookline – of critical inquiry, equity, excellence and mutual respect.”
Mona Mowafi, non-profit leader and Brookline resident
“He approaches every issue, no matter how contentious, with a calm demeanor rooted in core values of fairness, evidence, and belief in human potential.”
Beth Miller, TMM Precinct 5
“Brookline deserves leadership that refuses to look away from complexity and rises to meet the moment with clarity and compassion. Akiva is that leader.”
Zahriyannah Mohammadi Karakashian-Jones