The Salem School Committee recognized longtime members Amanda Campbell and Manny Cruz at a special meeting on Dec. 22, presenting an official citation from the Massachusetts Senate and tokens of appreciation for eight years of service to Salem Public Schools.

State Senator Joan Lovely read a Senate citation honoring the two members for their “impeccable years of dedicated service to the Salem School Committee and Salem families and students,” and presented the citation to the honorees.

Amanda Campbell, who served on the committee as an educator and advocate for multilingual learners, reflected on her eight years and urged residents to consider running for school committee. “These past 8 years have taught me how to make really hard decisions and how to make those decisions in public,” Campbell said, adding that enacting equity requires “sustained actions, discomfort, and accountability.”

Manny Cruz, who was identified in the meeting as both a Salem school committee member and a state representative, thanked voters, colleagues and educators who supported his work. Cruz described himself as “a proud product of these public schools” and emphasized the need to build outreach and retention strategies so multilingual families and diverse educators can engage with and remain in the district.

Superintendent remarks and multiple members’ tributes cited the pair’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, advocacy for student voice and contributions to curriculum and multilingual programming. The meeting included informal presentations, photos and lighthearted exchanges as the committee gave each honoree a City Seal and a bag of Salem Public Schools “swag.”

The recognition concluded with applause and brief responses from both Campbell and Cruz. The committee then returned to its regular agenda.