Learn About Our Board

As Head of Cambridge School of Weston, Lise Charlier brings 25+ years of experience as a teacher and administrator, which is evident in her ability to build relationships, problem-solve, and innovate with creativity and confidence. Prior to CSW, Lise served as director of studies and strategic initiatives at Severn School in Severna Park, Maryland. Before this role at Severn, Lise was upper school assistant principal at Friends School of Baltimore in Baltimore, Maryland. She has served on the board of trustees for Green Street Academy, the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools (AIMS), the Cowles Charitable Trust, and most recently the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education (CSEE). Born and raised in Haiti, Lise was educated in the Haitian, French, and American educational systems. She holds an MS in education from Johns Hopkins University and a BS from Georgetown University.

For the last fifteen years, Brad has served as Head of School of Dublin School, a boarding school in southwestern New Hampshire on the flanks of Mount Monadnock. Before his work at Dublin, Brad served for three years as the Assistant Principal at Aspen High School in Colorado and fifteen years as a Dean of Students, history teacher, coach, and dormitory parent at St. Andrew’s School in Delaware. Brad received his undergraduate and graduate degrees (MALS) from Dartmouth College and recently worked with Dartmouth and other New England schools to launch a fellowship program for aspiring educators from underrepresented backgrounds. Brad and his wife Lisa founded the DublinXC Ski Club and have both served as directors of the Dublin School Nordic Center. Brad loves spending time with his students and continues to teach and coach at Dublin. Brad and Lisa have two children, and their son is currently a boarding school teacher in Colorado.

Allison Webster has served as Head of School at Dedham Country Day since 2016. She began her career in law, practicing for two years in Boston before discovering her love of schools and switching careers to pursue the question of what makes children and institutions thrive. Over the next 20 years, she worked as a middle school teacher at Shady Hill School and The Park School, ultimately serving as the Assistant Head of School at Shady Hill for 10 years. In addition to serving on the AISNE Membership Committee, Allison is a member of Headmistresses of the East (HMEA), The Head’s Network, Elementary School Heads Association (ESHA) and Country Day School Heads Association. She has published several articles in NAIS’s Independent School Magazine and led numerous workshops in positive psychology with independent schools leaders. She holds a B.A. in English from Rollins College, J.D. from Tulane Law School, M.Ed. in Teaching and Curriculum from Harvard University, and Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Tara Gohlmann joined Buckingham Browne & Nichols as the Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer in 2018. Previously, Tara served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Boston College High School. At BC High, Tara was responsible for Advancement & Fundraising, Buildings & Grounds, Information Technology, Admissions & Enrollment, International Programming, the Business Office, and all Ancillary Services. Tara has also served as Acting CFO/Business Manager at the North Bennet Street School in Boston and Director of Finance at Abpro Corporation. Tara began her career in finance at PricewaterhouseCoopers as a Senior Manager, responsible for Fortune 500 clients in both New York and Beijing. Tara brings to BB&N a wealth of experience ranging from her time in the business world to submitting a Charter School application, to working and studying in China. She holds an MBA from The Wharton School and an EdD in Educational Leadership and Administration from Boston College.

Before joining Beacon, Dr. Carter was a Founding member of the leadership team for Project Evident, a national organization focused on helping not-for-profit organizations and philanthropic foundations harness the power of evidence to achieve greater impact. He also co-created and led a virtual learning program for practitioners and leaders called a Talent Accelerator. Similarly, Dr. Carter designed and piloted the Data & Evidence Equity Guide, a tool to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion principles into evidence building. Prior, he served as Deputy Director and Chief Strategy Officer at the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, where he created a learning strategy and built the capacity of individuals, organizations, and systems to drive and scale innovation.

Dr. Carter is currently a Trustee for Concord Academy and the Foundation for MetroWest, and a member of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation National Evaluation Advisory Committee. He has been an Adjunct Faculty member at Boston College Graduate School of Social Work and guest lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Education and Simmons College Graduate Schools of Management and Social Work. He earned his master’s degree in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his Ph.D. in Social Work from Boston College. He lives in the MetroWest area with his wife Robyn and their two children.

Yully joined Codman Academy in 2021 as the inaugural Director of Strategic Initiatives and Advancement. Prior to joining Codman, she worked as an independent consultant for various schools and non-profits, from fundraising and capital campaigns to leadership development and strategic growth. Prior to that, she served as Executive Director of Bridge Boston Charter School in Roxbury, Chief Program Officer at The Steppingstone Foundation, and Assistant Dean of Admission at Hamilton College. Yully’s family immigrated to Brooklyn, NY where she owes her love of reading and literature to her public school and library down the street. She resides with her partner and two children in Sharon, MA, where you can often find Yully volunteering for her daughters’ soccer and basketball teams.

Dr. Renée Greenfield brings over 20 years of experience as a teacher, Orton-Gillingham Fellow, and university professor to her role as head of Carroll School. She returned to Carroll in 2021 after teaching at the school from 2000-2004 and serving as a teacher coach from 2011-2012.

Fueled by her early experiences at Carroll and a desire to support children who are underserved, Renée focused her advanced studies on language learning and dyslexia, earning a Master of Education in Moderate Disabilities from Lesley University and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction, Language and Literacy from Boston College. Previously, Renée was a professor of special education at the University of Hartford. Prior to becoming head of school, Renée was Assistant Principal of the Fort River Elementary School in Amherst, MA, where she oversaw special education.

Brian Hargrove joined NMH in July 2019. Since his arrival, NMH has built on the momentum of previous leaders and remained focused on delivering on its mission to empower its students to act with humanity and purpose. During Brian’s tenure, NMH completed a strategic planning process, invested more than $50 million in campus improvements, increased financial aid by 40%, and launched the $225 million Our Place, Our Moment: The Campaign for Northfield Mount Hermon.

Brian came to NMH from Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, where he was the assistant head of school for advancement and communications. He previously was director of development for St. Mark’s School of Texas, his alma mater.

Brian holds a master’s degree in education and school leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from Texas State University, and a bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College.

Danielle Heard joined Nashoba Brooks in 2008 as the assistant head of school and was appointed head of school after a national search in 2012. She earned a B.A. from Williams College and an M.Ed. from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She was a Klingenstein fellow at Columbia University Teachers College and completed the Program for Leadership Development at Harvard Business School. Since 1991, Danielle has held teaching, coaching, advising, and residential life positions at Emma Willard School, Dana Hall School, and Willow Hill School, and served as executive vice president of programs and operations at The Steppingstone Foundation.

Danielle has been active in various volunteer capacities over the years, including serving on the Boards of the Association of Independent Schools of New England and Bridge Boston Charter School. She is currently a board member at Belmont Hill School and serves as President of the Board for the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools. Additionally, she has served as an advisor to The Chewonki Foundation, a career coach for a Posse Scholar, and a mentor to graduate students through the Klingenstein Foundation at Columbia Teachers College.

Sharon became Headmaster of St. Johnsbury Academy in July 2020. Prior to her current role, Dr. Howell served as Head of School at Indian Springs School in Birmingham, Alabama, and Associate Head of School for Strategic Planning and Administration at Northfield Mount Hermon School in Gill, Massachusetts.

Before she began her independent school career, Dr. Howell was the Allston Burr Resident Dean in Adams House and Lecturer in History and Literature at Harvard University. During her time at Harvard, she also held positions as Senior Allston Burr Resident Dean and Interim Housemaster in the residential house system and was an elected member of the Faculty Council. 

Dr. Howell holds a Ph.D. in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard University, an M.A. in English from Villanova University, and a B.A. in English from Connecticut College. She serves on the boards of St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, St. Johnsbury Academy Jeju (Korea), and on the Executive Committee of the Vermont Independent School Association (VISA).

Kristy Kerin took the reins as Brewster Academy’s 13th Head of School on July 1, 2020—the first woman in the school’s two-century history to hold this position. A graduate of Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, Kerin worked in the College’s Advancement Office for eight years prior to joining Brewster in 2011. Since then, she has worked tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to ensure that Brewster’s financial future and reputation are secure.

First as Brewster’s Director of Advancement and later as Associate Head of School, Kerin spearheaded a range of strategic areas, including Advancement, Outreach, and Global Programs. She designed and launched two capital campaigns, including Our Watershed Moment: The Campaign for Brewster, the Academy’s largest and most successful campaign to date. Kerin helped implement an integrated approach to outreach that maximizes the scope of Brewster’s Admissions, Advancement, and Communications efforts and co-led the Academy’s rebranding initiative, strengthening Brewster’s position in the field of education and garnering faithful support from the community the school serves. 

An alumna of the Lincoln School, Sophie Glenn Lau became the school’s 17th head in July 2020. Previously she was head of Senior School at Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sophie came to Lincoln with an outstanding record of strategic thinking, experience in developing and launching programs and partnerships, and a deep dedication to students. Earlier in her career, Sophie taught at The Groton School, Tabor Academy, and The Pingry School, before joining The Wheeler School in 2002. In her 12 years there she served as a history teacher, the History Department Chair, and the Technology Integrationist. Sophie is a graduate of Princeton University and subsequently received her master’s degree in history from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 

Noni has served as Head of School at the Gordon School in East Providence, RI since 2018. Before joining Gordon, Noni worked for two decades as a teacher, and later a consultant and administrator, in independent schools in New York City and has a passion for leadership development. In 2013, she founded the Interschool Leadership Institute for Educators of Color to cultivate the next generation of leaders of independent schools. In 2020, Noni began her first term on the AISNE Board of Directors. She currently serves on multiple national, regional and local boards, including the National Association of Independent Schools, Headmistresses Association of the East, Community Preparatory School, Inspiring Minds Rhode Island, and Trinity Repertory Company. In July 2020, she was invited by Sesame Workshop to be a Racial Justice Advisor and serves as a script consultant on issues of adolescent development and racial and social justice for two award-winning television series, Ghost Writer and Locked Down. Noni holds a B.A. from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, an M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an Ed.D in Educational and Organizational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.

Allison has been Head of The Wheeler School in Providence, Rhode Island since July 2017. During her time at Wheeler, she created Wheeler’s first-ever strategic design, which was unveiled with a new, unearthed, mission statement, “to learn our powers and be answerable for their use.” Prior to Wheeler, she was the Head of Blue School in New York City for five years, where she grew the school from early childhood through middle school. From 2005 through 2012, she was the founder and founding principal of an innovative district public school in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn, New York. She has been on the faculty of the Institute for New Heads through NAIS for three years. Various writings on Wheeler and education can be found here. Allison has a BA from Brown University and a M.Ed from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and attended Saint Ann’s School, where she came to understand the primacy of the arts in a fine education, and which sparked a passion for education that continues to this day. She lives in Providence with her architect husband and her two teens, Miles and Hannah, and their chocolate lab, Willie.

Sarah has been Head of School at The Winsor School in Boston since 2016. She is in her 2nd term on AISNE’s Board and she serves as the President of the Board. Prior to becoming Head at Winsor, Sarah was the Associate Head and Head of the Upper School at the National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C. Previous to that, she served in multiple roles at University High School in San Francisco, including Dean of Students and Interim Athletic Director. She has led strategic work at all three schools, including schedule creation, comprehensive strategic plans, overhauls of faculty evaluation, and curricular revisioning. Sarah holds an AB from Princeton, an MA in English and Creative Writing from Syracuse University and a PhD in Rhetoric from the University of California, Berkeley. She serves on the Board of Trustees at the Belmont Hill School, as well as the boards of the Fenway Alliance and MASCO. Sarah lives in Brookline MA with her husband and two sons, who are in 5th grade at The Park School and 9th grade at Beaver Country Day School. Many mornings she can be found on Charles River, rowing with her team from Community Rowing Inc.

In 2017, Grace became the first woman president of Boston College High School, a Jesuit, all-boys college preparatory school in Boston, Mass. Ms. Regan is not only the first woman to serve in the role in the school’s more than 150-year history, she is also just the second lay person. (Ms. Regan also serves on the board of directors of America Media.) Ms. Regan earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Boston College, then served as a post-collegiate volunteer with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Belize. She has worked in advancement and communications at high schools, universities, the Boston Public Library Foundation and the former New England Province of the Society of Jesus. All of this, along with her passion for the Jesuit philosophy of education, has helped her respond to the challenges of her role, including the threat of Covid-19 and reckoning with the school’s history of addressing questions of race.

Jadi began his service as Head of School at Esperanza Academy in 2018. Immediately prior, Jadi served as Dean of Multicultural Education at The Governor’s Academy and Associate Dean of Students at The Putney School. After several years of working in the field of international development, Jadi returned to education where he believes in the power of independent schools to drive meaningful systemic change. In 2020, Jadi proudly committed to his first term as a member of AISNE’s Board of Directors. He currently serves on the board of The Mariposa Foundation, Kimball Union Academy, Marigold Montessori School, and The Lawrence Partnership. Along with a strategic plan that has laid out the road map for Esperanza to position itself as leaders in Urban Education, Jadi has led the development and implementation of restorative justice, a culturally responsive curriculum, and community cultural wealth as institutional priorities at Esperanza Academy. Above all, he’s obsessed with spending time with his children.

Sara joined AISNE as Director of Membership and Accreditation in 2018. Prior to joining AISNE, Sara was Senior Director of School Accreditation & School Improvement at the American Montessori Society. She began her work in education as a kindergarten teacher in public and independent schools before becoming a Montessori Early Childhood teacher and teaching in public and private Montessori schools. Sara has served on the Executive Committee of the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA) and on the boards of state private school accrediting agencies including the Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE). Sara is a graduate of Northfield Mount Hermon School, the University of Virginia, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Sara lives in Beverly, MA with her daughter.

Jennifer is Vermont Academy’s eighteenth Head of School. She came to Vermont Academy in 2017 from The Nightingale-Bamford School in New York City, where she served as Associate Head of School since 2013. Prior to that, she was Associate Dean of Faculty at The Taft School in Watertown, CT where she spent twelve years. Since coming to Vermont Academy, Jennifer has worked with the board and the school community to launch a new strategic plan. She has led the campaign that drives the plan to significant gains, with record breaking fundraising in 2020 and a near doubling of that amount in 2021. Part of this success comes from significant initiatives to engage alumni by clarifying the school’s identity, purpose, direction, and value proposition.

She has also overseen several partnerships, including with Liceo Europeo in Madrid, Spain, where students enrolled in the international education program now receive a Vermont Academy diploma, and a partnership with Mount Snow Academy to allow top-level sports-on-snow students to earn a Vermont Academy diploma. A native of Connecticut, Jennifer graduated from Trinity College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Master of Arts degree in English with distinction. She received her doctorate in English from the University of Connecticut, where she graduated with honors. Jennifer enjoys welcoming students, faculty, and local residents to her home in the heart of campus, where she lives with her dogs, Copperfield and Brontë. She has two sons. Bryce Rafferty is at Sturm Law School at the University of Denver. Keefe Rafferty is a Lieutenant in the Navy serving at Joint Meteorology and Oceanography Special Operations Command Pacific at Camp Smith in Hawaii.