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Watkinson School

Tag: leadership

  • 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.

  • Watkinson School Appoints New Chief Financial and Operations Officer 

    Watkinson School Appoints New Chief Financial and Operations Officer 

    Watkinson School is pleased to announce its new Chief Financial and Operations Officer is Julia Winer of West Hartford, CT.  

    The CFOO provides strategic financial and operational leadership and is part of the senior leadership team. Winer will work closely with Head of School Teri Schrader, who taught Winer when she attended the Francis W. Parker Charter School which Schrader helped found and was the Head of School for 10 years.

    About her appointment, Winer commented, “I chose Watkinson because I believe the most important and compelling work that is happening in education today is happening here. I am driven to be a part of that work and to be part of the team that advances Watkinson’s mission. And I am eager to invite more people locally and beyond to get to know Watkinson the way I do.” Winer has been a member of Watkinson’s board of trustees for five years, most recently serving as vice president.

    Teri adds, “It’s only natural that Julia has returned to education. She is the perfect choice for Watkinson as she has a deep understanding of and is profoundly committed to schools like Watkinson. She is deeply rooted in this community, having attended the University of Hartford and being an exceptional leader in Hartford. I am excited to have her intellect and passion at Watkinson!”

    Winer comes to Watkinson School by way of MD Ally, where she was the Vice President of Operations. Prior to that, Winer was the Chief Corporate Office and Chief of Staff at Hartford’s Silver Fern Healthcare, and Director of Public Policy and Strategic Planning at the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC). She was also an adjunct professor in the University of Connecticut School of Business, teaching “Business Communications” for UConn’s Full-Time MBA Program and “Statistics in Business” for UConn’s Executive MBA Program.  

    A graduate of the University of Hartford, Winer also has an MBA from the University of Connecticut School of Business, and an MS in International and Comparative Education from the University of Oxford made possible by a John G. Martin Scholarship from the University of Hartford. In 2022, the University of Hartford awarded Winer their prestigious Anchor Award for Impact on Social Responsibility/Civic Engagement and featured her on the Hawk to Hawk podcast. 

    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 August 9 at 6pm.

  • Watkinson School Recognizes Kathleen Kane-Francalangia 

    Watkinson School Recognizes Kathleen Kane-Francalangia 

    As Inaugural Philanthropist of the Year

    Watkinson School is pleased to announce the selection of Kathleen Kane-Francalangia as the school’s inaugural recipient of the Philanthropist of the Year Award. The Award will be presented to Kathleen at Watkinson’s gala fundraiser, A Watkinson Affair, on Saturday, April 2, 2022.

    Kathleen began her long relationship with Watkinson School as a ten-year parent, while two of her sons were students at the school. Following those ten magical years, she spent nine years on the Board of Trustees. She served as chair of the Development Committee for eight of those nine years. She has worked on the gala committee since the inception of A Watkinson Affair, chairing that committee until this year, when she served as honorary co-chair. She spent the final three years of her tenure serving as vice-president of the Board, working closely with President Wendy Avery and the Executive Committee. One of the greatest honors of her Board tenure was participating on the Strategic Planning Committee and being part of developing that plan, The Shape Of Things To Come.

    Kathleen maintains a deep, deep affection and an abiding respect for Watkinson School, even now that her children have wandered, far and wide. With gratitude for all she has done for and given to Watkinson School, Kathleen is recognized as Watkinson’s first Philanthropist of the Year. 

    The Philanthropist of the Year is presented to an individual or family with a history of exceptional generosity through their own financial support, generosity of spirit, and civic responsibility. They set the highest example of leadership which, in turn, encourages others to take philanthropic roles in the Watkinson community. 

    Watkinson School, a private school for grades 6-12/PG, is Hartford, is CT’s oldest co-ed independent day school. To schedule a tour of our private school and to see what our students,  parents, and alumni have to say about their experiences at Watkinson School, click here. Our next info sessions for prospective families are April 7 and May 5 at 9am.

  • Watkinson School Awards Leadership Grant to Ninah G. ’24

    Watkinson School Awards Leadership Grant to Ninah G. ’24

    Top Rated Private School Recognizes Student from Hartford, CT

    Watkinson School is pleased to announce that our private school has awarded the Monique Colletti Leadership Grant to our private high school 10th-grader Ninah G. of Hartford, CT.

    Upper School Head Ryan Reese adds, “We are so excited for Ninah, as she is not only deserving of this award due to her application materials, but, more importantly, because she continues to find and embody leadership roles within our community each day. She wrote about examples of leadership from her own life and from history in her essay for the award, and she has stepped into important leadership roles within Ravens and Titans, our BIPOC affinity groups, this year, as well.”

    The fund supporting this grant was established in 1998 by family and friends in memory of Monique Colletti, class of 2000, who died in a car accident on June 27, 1998 while returning home from a school-related trip to the American Youth Foundation’s international youth leadership program at Camp Merrowvista. At the time, Monique was a tenth grader.

    This award intends to nurture students’ efforts to enhance their leadership skills. The Collettis want nothing more than to see young people have the opportunity that Monique had when she attended Merrowvista; the opportunity to hone their skills as leaders and prepare themselves to make a difference in the world. 

    The Colletti Leadership Grant is awarded every other year to a student leader who is energetic, sympathetic, and has the curiosity for knowledge and the experience necessary to attend a leadership camp or program. The recipient is chosen on the basis of a written application essay, as well as the input of two adult references. The awardee then seeks a program of interest, submits it for consideration and approval, attends the program, and then reports back to the Watkinson community about the experience.  The student will also report to the Colletti family by writing a summary of the impact of the experience. The grant provides up to $1,200 to fund an experience with a leadership program.

    Watkinson has an established tradition for recognizing excellence; see previous award winners here.

    Watkinson School, a private school for grades 6-12/PG, is Hartford CT’s oldest co-ed independent day school. To schedule a tour of our private school and to see what our students’ parents and alumni have to say about their experiences at Watkinson School, click here.

  • Watkinson School Appoints New Director of Community, Equity, and Inclusion

    Watkinson School Appoints New Director of Community, Equity, and Inclusion

    Watkinson private school is pleased to announce its new Director of Community, Equity and Inclusion is Courtney Massenberg.  

    A member of Watkinson’s senior leadership, the Director of Community, Equity, and Inclusion provides strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and active oversight of Watkinson’s efforts to become a more inclusive, just, and anti-racist community. The Director is responsible for promoting cultural awareness; fostering a sense of belonging for all; and creating, implementing and supporting equitable and inclusive educational and community opportunities. The Director supports and facilitates constructive dialogue about identity, bias, equity, and social responsibility, supporting students and adults within the school community to engage effectively across differences, both on and beyond campus. The Director leads Watkinson’s five-week Summer SPHERE educational program, which has been serving elementary school children from the city of Hartford for over fifty years. 

    Courtney comes to Watkinson School by way of New York City, where she began her career in education as an elementary school teacher for the NYC Department of Education, the largest and most diverse school system in the United States. After teaching in multiple grades and districts, she went on to serve in various roles including city-wide K-8 teacher evaluator, district-wide principal coach, and founding principal of a creative arts middle school. During this time, she also earned her master’s degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, as well as two administrative certifications. 

    Almost 20 years later, Courtney returns to Connecticut where she was raised and educated in the independent school system. Not only did she attend Renbrook School in West Hartford and graduate from the Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, Connecticut, she is also the proud sibling of a Watkinson Alum, Class of 2000.

    Throughout her career in education, Courtney has leveraged her diverse experiences to engage teachers, school, and district leaders in powerful conversations about how to reduce race, gender, socioeconomic, and other barriers to learning as well as promote an inclusive environment where all are proud to belong. She looks forward to continuing this important work at Watkinson and is thrilled to be a new member of the community.

  • Our Private School Sophomores Were Chosen to Speak at Leadership Greater Hartford’s Common Ground Graduation

    Our Private School Sophomores Were Chosen to Speak at Leadership Greater Hartford’s Common Ground Graduation

    by Alexa Miano, University of Hartford Communications Intern

    On December 11th at 6pm, Leadership Greater Hartford (LGH) had graduation proceedings for Common Ground program participants at the Lincoln Financial Group located in Downtown Hartford. Watkinson’s Head of School, Teri Schrader, was represented as a local leader and chosen to be the keynote speaker at the event this year. Two other Watkinson private school community members were also picked to speak, sophomores Anders A. and David E. who were two of the graduates participating in the event. Eight schools were represented that evening, and of the 27 members graduating that night, Anders and David were two of five student speakers chosen to present their speeches about how the program impacted them. Anders and David were joined by two Watkinson private school classmates — Olivia C and Shamarla K. — making a total of four Watkinson students in the group of 27 graduates.

    On having the opportunity to represent his peers, Anders said he was “grateful” to have been picked, and when asked about the message he relayed in his speech, he said, “Common Ground is a really cool thing, and it can benefit anyone who believes in themselves and wants to improve as a person. I thought it was important since leadership skills are not necessarily taught in the regular curriculum, and this program helped us to develop those skills.” Leadership Greater Hartford is a non-profit organization whose goal is to build a leadership capacity for people of all ages. The Common Ground program reaches the youngest audience LGH works with, specifically high school sophomores and juniors.