Patricia Duffy was born in San Pedro, California, the youngest of five children from a military family. Pat’s family on her father’s side came from Swinford in County Mayo, Ireland. She traveled to Ireland with her father and a college friend in 1991 and then later after her marriage to Joe Paul.
Pat has always been a fighter for our public education system. She is an advocate for strong, fully-funded public education from pre-K through higher education.
In addition to this general commitment, Pat is dedicated to fighting for:
The rights of public educators to bargain collectively and the funding necessary to fulfill those contracts.
Fully funding our public education system in MA (including higher education)
Relieve charter school burdens on local budgets and place those burdens on the state
Expand early education to include children ages 3-4.
Increase regulation of charter schools for greater transparency and accountability in their operations.
Keep cap on charter schools, don't raise it