Mass. Association of School Committees
Mass. Association of School Committees
The Massachusetts Council of School Committee Administrative Personnel (COSCAP) is a professional organization dedicated to supporting school committee and superintendent administrative assistants across the state. A subsidiary of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC), COSCAP provides a network for professional growth, collaboration, and advocacy for those who play a critical role in the success of school governance.
Each year, COSCAP hosts a dedicated meeting at the MASC/MASS Annual Joint Conference in November, offering valuable professional development and networking opportunities. Additionally, members benefit from year-round training sessions tailored to their evolving needs
Chair
Maynard
Vice Chair
Lee/Tyringham
Secretary
Avon
Member at Large
Old Rochester
Member at Large
North Middlesex
Annual membership is $100 per person, with dues directly funding professional development initiatives. By joining COSCAP, you’ll have a voice in shaping future training opportunities and access to resources designed to enhance your effectiveness in school committee administration. We invite you to become part of this growing network and strengthen your role in supporting public education leadership. Join COSCAP today – register here.
The very active “MASCsec” Listserv email discussion forum is an invaluable tool to those who use it. It enables Massachusetts school committee and superintendent administrative assistants who sign up to seek guidance, share information and exchange ideas and resources with one another. Each time you or any member of the list posts a message or a reply to the conversation, it is distributed to the email box of every member on the list. Messages are not screened before they are posted, though they are monitored by the administrator.
Subscribe to the MASCsec List or see the MASCsec List Archives. Please contact reg@masc.org if you have any questions.
The Executive Assistant of the Year Award, sponsored by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, is designed to bring recognition to the valuable work that secretaries and administrative assistants do in our schools. This award will recognize an outstanding individual who has succeeded in providing high-quality performance in a variety of school-office settings. Applicants will have demonstrated excellent leadership, commitment to staff and students, service to their communities, and contributions to the overall school experience.
All nomination forms and supporting material must be received no later than the end of the day, Friday, July 18, 2025, for the 2024 award.
The Executive Assistant Award – along with all other award nomination forms – may be found on our website here.
COSCAP is piloting a new mentoring program for new Executive Assistants to receive support from veteran Executive Assistants.
Our Listserv is an effective way to reach all members and to receive constructive input. However, some new assistants might prefer more personalized, one-to-one communication. This will give the new professional assistant an alternative to be able to reach out to someone with extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with public school district related topics.
If you are a new assistant (0-1 years experience) and you are interested in participating in this program, please email me at candrade@maynard.k12.ma.us and I will pair you with one of our veteran administrative assistants.
If you are a veteran assistant and would like to assist one of our new COSCAP members, then please email me at candrade@maynard.k12.ma.us.
As always, if at any time you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Colleen Andrade
COSCAP Chair
COSCAP conducted a survey of Superintendent Administrative Assistants in order to compare salary information for central office administrators across school districts. The results of this survey are now available to members on this page.
COSCAP has compiled a booklet containing job descriptions for relevant central office positions from a wide variety of school districts.
Job Descriptions Resource Booklet
COSCAP Learning Lunch: Leadership Series Part 1 (4/24/2024) Slides Here
COSCAP Learning Lunch: Leadership Series Part 2 (6/5/2024) Recording Here | Slides Here
2023 COSCAP Conference Program (11/9/2023) Slides Here
COSCAP Learning Lunch: Effective School Committee, Superintendent, Executive Assistant Team (Feb 3, 2022) Recording Here | Slides Here | Agenda Here
The COSCAP Handbook is a comprehensive resource designed to support school committee administrative professionals in their essential roles. This handbook provides guidance on best practices, key responsibilities, and essential procedures to help administrative assistants and executive secretaries navigate their work effectively. It also includes the COSCAP bylaws, ensuring members have a clear understanding of the council’s structure and governance. Whether you’re new to the role or an experienced professional, the COSCAP Handbook serves as a valuable tool for professional growth and success.