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Who We Are

Our Vision: A community deeply connected to the Harvard Public Schools, where innovative learning opportunities abound and true belonging is fostered both in and out of the classroom.

Our Mission: To fund innovative grants, supplemental programs, and need-based scholarships that empower Harvard's educators, inspire its students, and extend dynamic learning beyond the limits of the district budget.

The Harvard Schools Trust is an educational nonprofit organization deeply rooted in the local community of Harvard, Massachusetts. For decades, we have been committed to enhancing the educational experience at the Harvard Public Schools, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive.

 

We believe that a connected and thriving community fosters exceptional public schools, and in return, an exceptional school system strengthens the entire community.

 

Our work is made possible through the unwavering multi-generational support of our community members and generous donors who believe in the transformative impact of local public education.

Our History

Origins

The Spark: In July 1989, an ad hoc task force presented a draft of bylaws and a statement of purpose to the Harvard School Committee. The goal was to create an independent, nonprofit vehicle that could accept private donations from residents and businesses to fund creative school programs outside the constraints of the town's municipal tax budget.

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The Launch: On October 23, 1989, the Trust officially got off the ground during a general PTO meeting, where its inaugural Board of Directors was elected.

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The Mission: From day one, the 501(c)(3) organization was designed to work in harmony with - but remain independent of - municipal boards, school committees, and teacher unions. Its core purpose has always been to support Hildreth Elementary School and The Bromfield School by directly funding grant proposals submitted by teachers, administrators, parents, and students.

Evolution and Key Milestones

  • 1997: The Scholarship Program. The Trust expanded its impact by introducing an annual scholarship for graduating Bromfield seniors. The award prioritizes students who demonstrate exceptional community service, school spirit, and personal growth.

  • 2008: The Harvard Flea Market. The Trust joined as a co-sponsor of the annual Harvard Flea Market in 2008, and became the primary co-sponsor alongside the League of Women Voters in 2009. The Flea Market is a town tradition dating back to 1972, and remains a vital annual fundraising event.

  • 2011: Statewide Recognition. In May 2011, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts awarded the Trust with an Outstanding School Partner award, celebrating its sustained, systemic impact on local public education.

  • 2021: The Ambassador Simon Henshaw Award. The Trust established a special memorial citizenship award in honor of U.S. Ambassador Simon Henshaw (Bromfield Class of 1978) to  honor seniors who exemplify exceptional citizenship.

  • 2024: The Harvard Schools Trust Robbins Award. The Trust renamed its annual scholarship award to the Harvard Schools Trust Robbins Award in recognition of Sue Robbins, who served as a HST Director for 33 years, and her late husband Worth Robbins, who was a founding member of the Trust.

Our Board of Directors

The Harvard Schools Trust carries no heavy administrative overhead; it is governed entirely by a volunteer board of up to 15 Directors consisting of local parents, educators, and community leaders.

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All Directors are stewards who share a deep commitment to the Harvard community, and to the students and educators of the Harvard Public Schools. The Directors bring shared history and shared purpose to the faithful fulfillment of the Vision and Mission of the Trust.

2026-27 Directors

Pam Gordon (President)
Jennifer Slavin (Clerk)
Tyler Wittstruck (Treasurer)
Al Barbieri

Dylan Brix

Pamela Erdos

Alex Kosciak

Erin McBee

Bart Morrison

Heidi Siegrist

Terry Symula

Eric Weiss

Previous Directors

  • 2025-26: Al Barbieri, Dylan Brix, Dennis Coyne, Pamela Erdos, Pam Gordon (President), Alex Kosciak, Erin McBee, Bart Morrison, Heidi Siegrist, Jennifer Slavin (Clerk), Terry Symula, Eric Weiss, Tyler Wittstruck (Treasurer)

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  • 2024-25: Al Barbieri, Dylan Brix, Lindsay Burke (President), Dennis Coyne, Pamela Erdos, Pam Gordon, Alex Kosciak, Erin McBee, Bart Morrison, Heidi Siegrist, Jennifer Slavin (Clerk), Terry Symula, Eric Weiss, Tyler Wittstruck (Treasurer)

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  • 2023-24: Al Barbieri, Lindsay Burke (Co-President), Tim Clark, Dennis Coyne, Pamela Erdos, Pam Gordon, Alex Kosciak, Bart Morrison, Sue Robbins, Heidi Siegrist, Jennifer Slavin (Clerk), Terry Symula (Co-President), Rolf vandeVaart (Treasurer), Tyler Wittstruck

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  • 2022-23: Al Barbieri, Lindsay Burke (Co-President), Tim Clark, Dennis Coyne, Pamela Erdos, Pam Gordon, Alex Kosciak, Bart Morrison, Sue Robbins, Heidi Siegrist, Jennifer Slavin (Clerk), Terry Symula (Co-President), Rolf vandeVaart (Treasurer), Tyler Wittstruck

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  • 2021-22: Al Barbieri, Lindsay Burke (Co-President), Didi Chadran (Clerk), Tim Clark, Dennis Coyne, Molly Cutler, Pamela Erdos, Pam Gordon, Bart Morrison, Sue Robbins, Heidi Siegrist, Jennifer Slavin, Terry Symula (Co-President), Mary Traphagen, Rolf vandeVaart (Treasurer)

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  • 2020-21: Al Barbieri, Lindsay Burke (Co-President), Didi Chadran (Clerk), Tim Clark, Dennis Coyne, Molly Cutler, Pamela Erdos, Pam Gordon, Bart Morrison, Sue Robbins, Heidi Siegrist, Jennifer Slavin, Terry Symula (Co-President), Mary Traphagen, Rolf vandeVaart (Treasurer)

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  • 2019-20: Al Barbieri, Lindsay Burke, Didi Chadran (Clerk), Tim Clark, Dennis Coyne, Molly Cutler, Pamela Erdos, Pam Gordon, Bart Morrison, Charles Oliver, Sue Robbins, Heidi Siegrist, Terry Symula (President), Mary Traphagen, Rolf vandeVaart (Treasurer)

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  • 2018-19: Al Barbieri, Lindsay Burke, Didi Chadran (Clerk), Tim Clark, Dennis Coyne, Heidi Creighton, Molly Cutler, Mimi Dorward, Pamela Erdos, Pam Gordon, Bart Morrison, Sue Robbins, Heidi Siegrist, Terry Symula (President), Rolf vandeVaart (Treasurer)

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  • 2017-18: Al Barbieri, Lindsay Burke (as of 2/18), Didi Chadran (Clerk), Tim Clark, Dennis Coyne (as of 4/18), Heidi Creighton, Molly Cutler, Mimi Dorward, Pamela Erdos, Pam Gordon, Bart Morrison, Sue Robbins, Heidi Siegrist, Terry Symula (President), Rolf vandeVaart (Treasurer)

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  • 2016-17: Al Barbieri, Didi Chadran (Clerk), Tim Clark, Heidi Creighton, Molly Cutler, Mimi Dorward, Pamela Erdos, Steve Finnegan, Pam Gordon, Bart Morrison, Sue Robbins, John Ruark (resigned 4/17), Heidi Siegrist, Terry Symula (President), Rolf vandeVaart (Treasurer)

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  • 2015-16: Al Barbieri, Didi Chadran (Clerk), Tim Clark, Heidi Creighton, Molly Cutler, Mimi Dorward, Pamela Erdos, Steve Finnegan, Pam Gordon, Bart Morrison, Sue Robbins, John Ruark, Heidi Siegrist, Terry Symula (President), Rolf vandeVaart (Treasurer)

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  • 2014-15: Al Barbieri, Didi Chadran (Clerk), Heidi Creighton, Molly Cutler, Mimi Dorward, Pamela Erdos, Steve Finnegan, Pam Gordon, Bart Morrison, Weezie Potter, Sue Robbins, Heidi Siegrist, Terry Symula (President), Rolf vandeVaart (Treasurer)

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  • 2013-14: Al Barbieri, Nick Browse (Treasurer), Didi Chadran, Heidi Creighton, Molly Cutler, Mimi Dorward, Pamela Erdos, Steve Finnegan, Debbie Kaegebein (Co-President), Bart Morrison, Weezie Potter, Sue Robbins, Heidi Siegrist, Terry Symula (Co-President), Rolf vandeVaart (Clerk)

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  • 2012-13: Al Barbieri, Nick Browse (Treasurer), Didi Chadran, Heidi Creighton, Molly Cutler, Mimi Dorward, Pamela Erdos, Steve Finnegan, Debbie Kaegebein (Co-President), Bart Morrison, Weezie Potter, Sue Robbins, Heidi Siegrist, Terry Symula (Co-President), Rolf vandeVaart (Clerk)

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  • 2011-12: Al Barbieri, Nick Browse (Treasurer), Didi Chadran, Heidi Creighton, Molly Cutler (Co-President), Mimi Dorward, Pamela Erdos, Steve Finnegan, Debbie Kaegebein (Co-President), Bart Morrison, Weezie Potter, Sue Robbins, Heidi Siegrist, Terry Symula, Rolf vandeVaart (Clerk)

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  • 2010-11: Al Barbieri, Nick Browse (Treasurer), Didi Chadran, Heidi Creighton, Molly Cutler (Co-President), Mimi Dorward, Steve Finnegan, Andrea Hill, Debbie Kaegebein (Co-President), Weezie Potter, Sue Robbins, Heidi Siegrist, Terry Symula, Rolf vandeVaart (Clerk), Ken Wenger

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  • 2009-10 : Al Barbieri, Nick Browse (Treasurer), Didi Chadran, Molly Cutler (Co-President), Mimi Dorward, Andra Evans, Steve Finnegan, Andrea Hill, Debbie Kaegebein (Co-President), Weezie Potter, Sue Robbins, Heidi Siegrist, Terry Symula, Rolf vandeVaart (Clerk), Ken Wenger

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  • 2008-09 : Al Barbieri, Nick Browse (Clerk), Didi Chadran (as of 04/09), Molly Cutler (Co-President), Mimi Dorward, Andra Evans, Steve Finnegan, Andrea Hill (as of 03/09), Dan Justicz (resigned 04/09), Debbie Kaegebein (Co-President), Weezie Potter (Treasurer), Sue Robbins, Heidi Siegrist, Terry Symula, Rolf vandeVaart (as of 04/09), Ken Wenger

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  • 2007-08 : Al Barbieri, Nick Browse (Clerk), Molly Cutler (Co-President), Mimi Dorward, Andra Evans, Steve Finnegan, Dan Justicz, Debbie Kaegebein (Co-President), Susie Macrae, Weezie Potter (Treasurer), Sue Robbins, Heidi Siegrist, Terry Symula, Ken Wenger

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  • 2006-07 : Al Barbieri, Nick Browse (Clerk), Tim Clark, Molly Cutler, Mimi Dorward (President), Steve Finnegan, Debbie Kaegebein, Nina Lyvers, Susie Macrae, Weezie Potter (Treasurer), Sue Robbins, Heidi Siegrist, Terry Symula, Bob Thurston, Ken Wenger

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  • 2005-06: Al Barbieri, Nick Browse (Clerk), Tim Clark, Molly Cutler, Mimi Dorward (President), Steve Finnegan, Debbie Kaegebein, Nina Lyvers, Susie Macrae, Weezie Potter (Treasurer), Sue Robbins, Heidi Siegrist, Terry Symula, Bob Thurston, Ken Wenger

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  • 2004-05: Al Barbieri, Nick Browse (Clerk), Molly Cutler, Mimi Dorward (President), Steve Finnegan, Debbie Kaegebein, Nina Lyvers, Susie Macrae, Weezie Potter (Treasurer), Sue Robbins, Heidi Siegrist, Terry Symula, Bob Thurston, Darrell Wickman

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  • 2003-04: Al Barbieri, Nick Browse, Mimi Dorward (President), Steve Finnegan, Debbie Kaegebein (Treasurer), Nina Lyvers, Susie Macrae, Weezie Potter, Sue Robbins, Kim Schwarz (Clerk), Heidi Siegrist, Terry Symula, Darrell Wickman, Glenn Williams

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  • 2002-03: Abbe Alpert, Al Barbieri, Chuck Christensen (President), Mimi Dorward, Steve Finnegan, Debbie Kaegebein (Treasurer), Nina Lyvers, Susie Macrae, Sue Robbins, Kim Schwarz (Clerk), Heidi Siegrist, Donna Solod, Rich Tuzzolo (Vice President), Darrell Wickman, Glenn Williams

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  • 2001-02: Abbe Alpert, Al Barbieri, Chuck Christensen (President), Mimi Dorward, Steve Finnegan, Debbie Kaegebein (Treasurer), Nina Lyvers, Bob Nicewicz, Sue Robbins, Kim Schwarz (Clerk), Heidi Siegrist, Donna Solod, Rich Tuzzolo (Vice President), Darrell Wickman, Glenn Williams

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  • 2000-01: Abbe Alpert, Al Barbieri, Chuck Christensen (President), Mimi Dorward, Jeff Harris, Debbie Kaegebein (Treasurer), Nina Lyvers, Bob Nicewicz, Sue Robbins, Joe Schmidt, Kim Schwarz (Clerk), Donna Solod, Rich Tuzzolo (Vice President), Darrell Wickman, Glenn Williams

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  • 1999-00: Abbe Alpert, Al Barbieri, Peggy Callagy, Chuck Christensen, Jeff Harris, Debbie Kaegebein (Treasurer), Linda Kellom, Bob Nicewicz, Sue Robbins, Joyce Saturley, Joe Schmidt (Vice President), Kim Schwarz (Clerk), Donna Solod, Rich Tuzzolo (President), Darrell Wickman

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  • 1998-99: Abbe Alpert, Al Barbieri, Peggy Callagy, Chuck Christensen, Jeff Harris, Debbie Kaegebein, Linda Kellom, Sue Robbins (Clerk), Joyce Saturley, Joe Schmidt (Vice President), Kim Schwarz, Joan Shulman, Donna Solod, Bill Thurston (Treasurer), Rich Tuzzolo (President)

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  • 1997-98: Abbe Alpert, Al Barbieri, Peggy Callagy, Chuck Christensen, Jeff Harris, Debbie Kaegebein, Linda Kellom, Sue Robbins (Clerk), Joyce Saturley, Joe Schmidt (President), Kim Schwarz, Joan Shulman, Donna Solod (Vice President), Bill Thurston (Treasurer), Rich Tuzzolo

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  • 1996-97: Abbe Alpert, Al Barbieri, Peggy Callagy, Chuck Christensen, Jeff Harris, Debbie Kaegebein, Linda Kellom, Sue Robbins (Clerk), Joyce Saturley, Joe Schmidt (President), Kim Schwarz, Donna Solod (Vice President), Bill Thurston (Treasurer), Rich Tuzzolo

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  • 1995-96: Abbe Alpert, Gail Brater, Steve Butterfield, Peggy Callagy, Chuck Christensen, Andrea Fincke, Jeff Harris, Debbie Kaegebein, Sue Robbins (Clerk), Joyce Saturley, Joe Schmidt, Donna Solod (President), Bill Thurston (Treasurer), Rich Tuzzolo

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  • 1994-95: Gail Brater, Steve Butterfield, Peggy Callagy, Jeff Harris, Debbie Kaegebein, Sue Robbins (Clerk), Joyce Saturley, Joe Schmidt, Donna Solod (President), John Straus, Bill Thurston (Treasurer), Rich Tuzzolo

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  • 1993-94: Gail Brater, Steve Butterfield, Peggy Callagy, Jeff Harris, Claudette Hunt, Frances Reeve, Sue Robbins, Joyce Saturley, Donna Solod, John Straus (President), Bill Thurston (Treasurer), Rich Tuzzolo, Richard Wolfson

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  • 1992-93: Steve Butterfield, Peggy Callagy, Carol Fuller, Jeff Harris, Claudette Hunt, Sue Robbins, Joyce Saturley, Donna Solod, John Straus (President), Bill Thurston (Treasurer), Richard Wolfson

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  • 1991-92: Ken Brater, Lisa Brown, Carole Christensen, Pam Eubank, Carol Fuller, Jeff Harris, Claudette Hunt, Jodie Pike, Joyce Saturley, Mimu Sloan, Gene Solod, John Straus (President), Bill Thurston (Treasurer), Richard Wolfson

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  • 1990-91: Ken Brater, Lisa Brown, Carole Christensen (President), Frank Coolidge, Carol Fuller, Jeff Harris, Claudette Hunt, Hans Ohlin, Jodie Pike, Mimu Sloan, Gene Solod, John Straus, Bill Thurston (Treasurer), Richard Wolfson

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  • 1989-90: Ken Brater, Carole Christensen (President), Frank Coolidge, Carol Fuller, Jeff Harris, Claudette Hunt, Alice Litter, Hans Ohlin, Jodie Pike, Mimu Sloan, Gene Solod, Bill Thurston (Treasurer), Richard Wolfson

Support the Trust

We rely on the financial commitment of our members to fund the work of the Trust. Please pledge your support by becoming an annual member or renewing your membership today!

Become a Member
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