SHS History Educator Lori Marenda-Lang Named Among Commonwealth Heroines Class of 2026
Ms. Marenda-Lang honored for her work with Mental Makeover, League of Women Voters and Salem Building Committee
View Program | View the 2026 Commonwealth Heroines
SALEM (July 2, 2024) – Lori Marenda-Lang, a history educator at Salem High School, was named to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) Commonwealth Heroines Class of 2026, the Commission announced recently.
The MCSW partners with state legislators to identify women who make outstanding contributions to their organizations and their communities. Elected officials nominate one woman from their constituency each year for recognition of extraordinary acts of service.
Nominated for the award by State Representative Manny Cruz (D, 7th Essex District), Ms. Marenda-Lang was honored Wednesday, June 24 in a ceremony at the Massachusetts Statehouse.
In addition to her role at SHS, Ms. Marenda-Lang is a board member of Mental Makeover, a non-profit committed to fighting stigma surrounding mental health; a member of the Salem High School Building Committee, and an active volunteer with the League of Women Voters.
Said Rep. Cruz’s nomination, “She cares deeply for her students and has had an immeasurable impact on the students she has taught. Salem High School is lucky to have educators like her, and her advocacy, paired with her deep love for Salem, makes our city, and as a result, our Commonwealth, better as a whole.”
Ms. Marenda-Lang has been an educator at SHS since 2006
“I was deeply moved and completely surprised when Manny called to share that he had nominated me for this award,” said Mr. Marenda-Lang. “Manny has always been a steadfast champion of my work, from advocating for student voices and mental health resources to collaborating with the League of Women Voters.”
The honor is the latest in recent months for Ms. Marenda-Lang. In May, she was named among the 2026 City of Salem Local Heroes for Women’s History Month. In September, she received a curriculum-writing fellowship through two universities: Harvard’s Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies and the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Research in Southeast Europe at the University of Rijeka, Croatia.
“During the ceremony, one of the quotes that resonated with me was ‘The Commonwealth Heroines Class of 2026 may not always make the news, but they always make a difference.’ Salem has truly become my home. I love contributing to this community and striving to make a meaningful impact. Spending the last 20 years as a high school history educator here has been the absolute greatest privilege of my life. My students, both past and present, remain the ultimate inspiration behind everything I do.”
Ms. Marenda-Lang was one of two Salem residents named to the Class of 2026, joining Anne Boris, a volunteer with Northeast Arc. The Class of 2026 included 20 recipients from Essex County.
Ms. Marenda-Lang earned her undergraduate degree in history at Western Illinois University, and her master’s degree in history from Fitchburg State University.
About Salem Public Schools
Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are all passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens we view all of our work through. 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 serve all of our students, regardless of ability or language. Salem Public Schools enrolls approximately 4,000 students across its eleven schools.
