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Watkinson School

Tag: board of trustees

  • Watkinson Elects New President and Vice President

    Watkinson Elects New President and Vice President

    Kathleen Kane-Francalangia and Nancy Wheeler named Board of Trustees President and Vice President Respectively

    Watkinson School is pleased to announce that Kathleen Kane-Francalangia (West Hartford), has been elected president of its Board of Trustees effective July 1, 2024. Kane-Francalangia succeeds Wendy Avery (West Hartford), Director of Marketing and Communications at Corridor Ventures. Nancy Wheeler (Northampton, MA) has been elected to succeed Kane-Francalangia as vice president.

    Kane-Francalangia has served on Watkinson’s Board for 12 years, beginning on the Development Committee and subsequently serving as Chair of that committee for the past four years. She also served on the 2016 Strategic Planning Committee. She has worked on all 12 A Watkinson Affair gala events and has chaired the Gala Committee for the past seven years. She joined the Executive Committee in 2017 and has served as vice president for four years. In 2022, she was named Watkinson’s Philanthropist of the Year, a distinction given to an individual or family with a history of exceptional generosity who sets the highest example of leadership which, in turn, encourages others to take philanthropic roles in the Watkinson community. 

    Wheeler (Northampton, MA) is the President of WheelerConnect, a consulting firm she founded in 2019 after more than 15 years as Sr. Vice President and then Interim President and CEO of MetroHartford Alliance. Wheeler steps into the role of Vice President with decades of experience on Hartford-area boards, including chairing the Billings Forge Community Works (now Forge City Works) Board for five years; and serving on the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame Board of Directors for six years. Wheeler did consulting work for Watkinson from 2019-2020 and joined the board in 2023.

    Avery chaired Watkinson’s Board for seven years and was a member for ten years. Head of School Teri Schrader says, “Through Wendy’s work we have expanded and deepened the school community.” Avery was a tireless advocate of a Watkinson education, and as such drew new families and friends into our community. Avery’s profound respect for the way in which the school lives its mission fueled her work to bring Watkinson to the attention of many who were previously unfamiliar with the school’s steadfast commitment to a vigorous intellectual program in the context of a truly inclusive community. 

    “We are delighted to have someone with the leadership and passion Kathleen brings to the role of board chair. Having Nancy, who has such deep connections throughout the region and extensive governance experience, as her partner is a very powerful combination for our board.” said Schrader. “I am excited to partner with Kathleen and Nancy as we continue to expand Watkinson’s impact in the Greater Hartford community.”

    Watkinson School, a co-educational independent private day school for grades 6-12/PG,  is Hartford’s oldest independent school.  Watkinson’s next info sessions for prospective students are July 10 and August 7 at 6pm.

  • Watkinson School Elects Six Community Leaders to Board of Trustees

    Watkinson School Elects Six Community Leaders to Board of Trustees

    Watkinson School, Hartford’s oldest independent day school for grades 6-12/PG, is pleased to announce the addition of six exceptional community leaders to its Board of Trustees.

    The new trustees include:

    Kevin Constantine (Cheshire) is a Manager at CliftonLarsonAllen LLP and is the new Assistant Treasurer of the board. Prior to his current post, he worked at CohnReznick LLP and Nexia Edwards Marshall; he has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting from UConn.

    Mike Goss (Glastonbury) is a Managing Partner at Fiducient Advisors, where he has been a member of the senior leadership for nearly two decades. He returns to Watkinson after a brief hiatus for a second term on the board, where his leadership and philanthropy were influential in making our Freshly Squeezed speaker series possible for ten years.

    Kristin Herzog (North Granby) is Group General Counsel, Legan Shared Services at Travelers. She joined Travelers in 2004 and has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility. Kristin is a current Watkinson parent of three students — a senior, sophomore, and eighth grader. 

    Justice Raheem Mullins (Farmington) graduated from Watkinson School in 1997. He was nominated to the CT Supreme Court on October 4, 2017 by Governor Dannel P. Malloy, and was sworn in on November 1, 2017. He is the youngest person to be nominated to the Supreme Court. Prior to this appointment, Justice Mullins served as a judge of the Appellate Court and as a judge of the Superior Court. Justice Mullins is admitted to the Bar of the United States Supreme Court as well as the Connecticut Bar.

    Jon Olear (Ogunquit, ME) retired after 25-years as a Watkinson faculty member; for more than a decade he managed Watkinsons 40-acre campus and all facilities.

    Nancy Wheeler (Northampton, MA) is the President of WheelerConnect, a consulting firm she founded in 2019 after more than 15 years as Sr. Vice President and then Interim President and CEO of MetroHartford Alliance.

    Board President Wendy Avery (West Hartford) is excited and confident that these professionals will provide enormous support and guidance to Watkinson. She adds, “Watkinson School has always been at the forefront of progressive education and community engagement. The addition of these new members to our Board of Trustees enriches our institution with a wealth of expertise and experience. We are thrilled to welcome them, confident that their diverse backgrounds and accomplishments will contribute meaningfully to Watkinson’s mission and future.”

    Watkinson School is Hartford’s oldest co-ed independent day private school for grades 6-12/PG. Watkinson’s mission is to develop in our students the power to shape their lives and the world around them. Our next info session for prospective families is February 23 at 9am.