Salem School Committee Adds New Members Yamily Byas, Megan Stott

Term began Monday, Jan. 5; Both parents of SPS students 

SALEM (Jan. 5, 2026) – Yamily Byas, a former student support specialist at Salem Prep High School, and Megan Stott, a former Salem city councilor, began their four-year tenure on the Salem School Committee at the first meeting of 2026 on Monday, Jan. 5.

Both Ms. Byas and Ms. Stott were elected to their posts in November, alongside incumbent member Beth Anne Cornell, who was named the Committee Vice Chair. Ms. Byas and Ms. Stott replace former members Amanda Campbell and Vice Chair/State Representative (7th Essex District) Manny Cruz, each of whom served eight years.

“I’m happy to welcome Yamily Byas and Meg Stott to the Salem School Committee and look forward to serving alongside them both over the coming years,” said Mayor of Salem/School Committee Chair Dominick Pangallo. “Both bring a deep commitment to our schools, our students, and our community. Salem Public Schools are excelling, and I know with Yamily and Meg’s participation on the School Committee, alongside our other members, we’ll maintain that positive trajectory and continue to build on it.”

In addition to regular commitments, Ms. Byas will chair the Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee and will serve on the Curriculum Subcommittee. Ms. Stott will chair the Policy Subcommittee and serve on the Finance Subcommittee.

Currently the manager of community and advocacy at Healing Abuse Working for Change in Salem, Ms. Byas served as a student support specialist at Salem Prep for three years (2021-24) which followed a five-year stint as an administrator at the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission. Concurrently with her time at the MRC, Ms. Byas taught English as a Second Language (ESL) courses at the House of Seven Gables two nights a week.

“My decision to run for School Committee is rooted in my long‑standing commitment to the Salem community,” said Ms. Byas, a nine-year resident. “Salem has truly become my home. I have built deep relationships with families, educators, and community organizations, and I have seen both the strengths of our school system and the areas where we can continue to grow.

“I spent three years working at Salem Prep, where I witnessed firsthand how inclusive leadership and strong partnerships can positively shape student experiences,” she added. “I am also the founder of Mamas Unidas, an organization created to uplift mothers’ voices and advocate for equity, access, and meaningful collaboration between schools and the communities they serve. Alongside this work, I am a parent of a child in the district, which gives me a deeply personal connection to the decisions being made and their impact on students.”

In 2019, Ms. Byas founded Mamas Unídas, which supports Latina mothers and families on the North Shore with basic necessities and resources. 

Ms. Byas’ impact on the greater Salem community has generated several honors: 

• In June of 2024, Ms. Byas was named to the Commonwealth Heroines Class of 2024 for outstanding contributions to Salem and the North Shore. 
• A year earlier, she was named the recipient of the Dominican Flag Committee Up-and-Coming Youth Leader Award, and had been nominated for the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce/City Awake 10 Outstanding Young Leader Awards.
• In 2023, she was one of several Latina leaders in Salem to  be featured on the El Mundo Mural in The Point neighborhood.

“I hope to bring a collaborative, grounded approach shaped by my experiences as an educator, community leader, and parent,” Ms. Byas said. “I am committed to helping ensure that Salem Public Schools are safe, inclusive, and equitable for all students, not only for my own child, but for every family who calls Salem home. My goal is to contribute thoughtful leadership, strengthen trust between the district and the community, and support policies that allow all students to thrive.”

A product of Lynn Public Schools, Ms. Byas is a 2025 graduate of Southern New Hampshire University. She also received her mental health certificate from North Shore Community College in 2013 and her associates degree from Marian Court College in 2010. 

Her son, Jayden, is a second-grade student at the Carlton Innovation School.

Currently the Director of Operations at Solidifi, Ms. Stott recently capped her third and final term on the Salem City Council (Ward 6) and served as president in 2023. Her accomplishments with the City Council include chairing the Ordinances, Licenses, and Legal Affairs Committee, which provided assistance on critical issues such as the Bridge Street Neck Overlay District, Halloween parking overlay, and the Municipal Green Building Ordinance.

She also served as the chair of the Public Health, Safety, and Environment Committee and the Administrative & Finance Committee; was appointed to the Race Equity Task Force, and served as the co-chair of its Healthcare Subcommittee; and was a member of the Community and Economic Development Committee.

“As a Salem Public Schools parent and experienced city leader, I see our schools are on a strong upward path and I want to help keep that momentum going,” Ms. Stott said. “With deep financial, civic, and community experience, I’ll bring steady leadership and a commitment to equity and student success across our vibrant school community.”

A longtime community service advocate, Ms. Stott founded the North Street Northfields Neighborhood Association which focuses on the beautification of the neighborhood, completing community-based projects and encouraging friendliness among neighbors. She also served on the board of Rebuilding Together Boston, which rebuilds homes and works to revitalize communities, for nine years.

Additionally, Ms. Stott also serves on the Salem Building Committee which is in the early stages of designing a new high school in Salem.

Ms. Stott’s vast experience, particularly with the City Council, will be a significant asset to the Committee. 

“The budget will continue to be a priority and a challenge in the coming years – with growing uncertainty in our political and economic environment – so it’s critical to have school committee members who not only understand budgeting, prioritizing and balancing, and but can also advocate effectively for Salem’s needs at both the local and state level,” Ms. Stott noted.

“Related to that, the new high school building project will continue to be a priority. We have an important vote coming up soon for both council and the public, and making sure we are creating what Salem students and educators deserve, while also being fiscally responsible, is important. Communicating and meeting with the community as well as building support for this exciting project will be essential.”

A Salem resident since 1999, Ms. Stott is a 2002 graduate of Salem State University, from which she earned her degree in communications. Her daughter Stella is an eighth grade student at Collins Middle School.

About Salem Public Schools

Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts, a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens through which we view our work. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff unconditionally serves each of our 4,000 students across 11 schools regardless of ability or language.