Board of Trustees
2025-26 Board of Trustees
Back row (l to r): Jeff Poggi, Darren Herman, Jennifer Richards Little, Tim Lee, Linda Echt, Michelle Cannon, Kate Charles, Dane Callow, Will Barker
Front row (l to r): Dinah Borden, Robyn Dollar, Sherri Herman, Krista Demas, Patty James, Laniesha Gray, Audrey Almeida, Jill Beguhn
Not pictured: Lauren LaGrega, Julie Purrington
Collaborative Learning Project, Inc. d/b/a Tremont School
Tremont School is the business name for the Collaborative Learning Project, Inc. (CLP). CLP/Tremont School is governed by a board of dedicated volunteers who believe passionately about Tremont School’s mission and helping all students thrive!
Contact Us
You may contact the Board of Trustees at any time by emailing the Board Officers at officers@tremontschool.org.
Board Officers
Jeff Poggi
Chair
Linda Echt, Ed.M.
Vice Chair
Linda Echt is principal owner of: LINDA ECHT CONSULTING, LLC. She consults with independent schools and other non-profit organizations. She was a long time Head at Atrium School and the founder of their middle school program. Prior to that she was the founder of Kesher (an innovative approach to Jewish education) in Cambridge and helped to replicate the program on the east coast, in New York and in Newton. Linda holds a Masters in Education (Administration) from Lesley University and went to Michigan State University and graduated with a triad major in History of Art, Philosophy and Religious Studies.
While Tremont was completing its Head of School search Linda served as Interim Head. She deeply believes in the model of Tremont School and describes it as a needed school in the independent school landscape and is so happy to be supporting the school by serving on the Board of Directors. She comes to us with a great passion for teaching and learning and a wealth of knowledge about independent school governance. She is a huge Tremont cheerleader, looking forward to being a part of the schools’ continued growth. Linda lives in Watertown with her wife Jill and kids, Noah (Tremont PG ’20) and Eva.
Dane Callow
Treasurer
Dane has nearly two decades of experience in the investment and healthcare finance fields. He is the founder and Managing Partner of Spinnaker Life Sciences, a strategy consulting firm focused on providing finance, development, and commercial support to pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies. Prior to Spinnaker he founded Brooks Hill Partners, an investment firm that supplied capital and tactical advisory to seed stage healthcare technology and biopharma services start-ups. A New Englander through and through, Dane received his BA from Middlebury College, MBA from the Tuck School of Business, and lives outside Boston with his wife, Jess, their two kids, and two dogs. A devoted sports fan, Dane supports every team equally; as long as they’re from Boston. When not immersed in the life sciences finance landscape, he’ll be enjoying any number of activities with his family; travelling, coaching, golfing, skiing, or whatever form of outdoor activity can be found. Prior to being elected to the Board of Trustees, Dane was a volunteer on the Board Finance & Investment Committee.
Lauren LaGrega, M.D.
Clerk
Lauren is a proud parent of a Tremont School alum and has been a part of our community for almost 10 years. She served as Tremont School Gala Co-chair in 2018 and as an officer of the Tremont Parent Association for three years. Lauren was the co-chair of Tremont School Committee to Re-Open during the summer of 2020, and currently serves as Tremont’s Health Consultant and chair of the COVID Taskforce.
Lauren is a pediatrician currently working in Cambridge, MA. She has a clinical interest in working with neurodiverse and gender-diverse patients. Lauren is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University with a BA in Public Health and graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine, MD. She was a recipient of a National Health Service Corp Scholarship and worked for over two years in a medically underserved community in the South Bronx after completion of her pediatric residency at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Medical Center.
Sherri Herman
Recording Secretary
Sherri has been part of the Tremont community since 2022 and is the proud parent of a Tremont 12th grader. She has recently been elected to the Board of Trustees as Recording Secretary and also serves as the chair of the Nominating Committee. Prior to her board service, Sherri was a volunteer on Tremont’s Board Governance and Nominating Committee. For over 15 years, she was an Executive Director at Morgan Stanley in New York. She began her career in the firm’s Finance & Administration training program and worked her way up in the Financial Operations division holding several key positions in Institutional Sales & Trading, Business Management and Strategic Planning. Later in her career, Sherri transitioned to Human Resources as the Global Head of HR for Alternate Sourcing and Off-Shore planning and completed her tenure with the firm as the Operations Officer for Human Resources. After her two children were born, Sherri filled some of her time as Founder & President of ResumeGal.com, a resume writing and editing service and has served as a volunteer on various PTO committees in the Wellesley Public Schools. Sherri resides in Wellesley with her husband, Darren, their two children, and three dogs. When not volunteering, Sherri enjoys spending time at the beach, traveling, reading, and attending dance competitions with her daughter.
Board Trustees (3 Year Term)
Timothy B. Lee, Ed.M.
A Certified Educational Planner, Timothy B. Lee has guided young people to make informed educational decisions for over three decades. Before entering private practice, he was associate director of admissions for two years and placement advisor for five years at two leading New England schools. Mr. Lee graduated from Harvard College and received a master’s degree in adolescent development from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. As the director of educational services at Advocates for Human Potential, Tim worked with students to find the best fit for an independent school or college as well as with those seeking alternatives to meet their learning or emotional needs. He is an active member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) the professional association for independent educational consultants. Tim served on the Board for Directors for 9 years. Elected to the executive committee he was Vice President of Ethics and Practices and served as President for 2 years. He is a member of the New England Association of College Admission Counseling, National Association for College Admission Counseling, and American Institute of Certified Educational Planners. Tim currently works as an independent educational consultant in private practice.
Darren Herman
Darren is a Managing Director at Bain Capital in Boston and Chairman of Silicon Alley Sports, an organization that comes together to play sports and network to raise money for various charities. He has had a career as an entrepreneur, investor, and executive focused on growth: marketing, digital, technology, and strategy. Darren has been featured in numerous global media, such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and various national publications highlighting some of the innovations he has accomplished and the awards he’s won. Darren lives in Wellesley with his wife, two teenage children, and three dogs. When not working, TikTok-ing with his daughter or losing in video games to his son, he can be found on the tennis court, at a New York Knicks game, or skiing with his family. Herman is an active member of the Pinebrook Country Club Tennis Committee.
Patty James, M.B.A
Patty is one of the Tremont School founders and has been involved since the school’s inception. She serves as a Board Trustee, donor and a member of the Advancement Committee. From 2006-2008, Patty was a volunteer in the parent-directed Son Rise play-therapy program supporting a young student on the autism spectrum and a graduate of Tremont’s 8th grade. Throughout her involvement with the Tremont School, Patty is continually proud of its success in helping students achieve personal and academic growth which in turn provides them with higher educational opportunities. Patty is currently living in Chicago after relocating four years ago to be closer to her daughter, Casey (a former art teacher at Tremont) and her two grandchildren. Prior to her involvement with the Tremont School, Patty held a position as a Paralegal in a large Boston Law firm then proceeded to earn an MBA from Simmons School of Management in 1982. After graduation she worked for a small consulting firm in the Boston area and started her family of two daughters.
Julie Purrington, J.D.
Julie is the proud parent of two Tremont alumni and has served the Tremont community in many roles including TPAC Chair, TPAC Advisor, and various Board leadership positions. Julie received her law degree from The Washington College of Law at American University, and her undergraduate degree from Harvard College. In her legal practice she advised health care organizations in corporate and regulatory matters with law firms in DC and RI. Julie provided business development support to a consulting firm contracting with the federal government, before spending the past 15 years in the non-profit education sector. When not volunteering for Tremont, she will most likely be found gardening or on the RI beaches. Julie lives in Connecticut with husband Dave, Mara (Tremont Class of 2022) and Alec (Tremont MS Alum) and dog Holly.
Jennifer Richards Little
Jen has been part of the Tremont community for over 10 years, and is the proud parent of a recent alum. In that time, she has served the Tremont community in many capacities, and is currently Chair of the Advancement Committee. She is dedicated to creating healthy and strong connections throughout the Tremont community and all of its supporters. Outside of Tremont School, Jen is a physical therapist with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from University of California, Santa Cruz, and her Masters in Physical Therapy from University of Southern California. With over 25 years of experience, she specializes in trauma recovery and somato-emotional release in relation to physical injury and chronic pain syndromes, and is the owner of Jennifer Richards Little, MPT CST LLC, her in-person physical therapy practice. When she’s not working or volunteering, Jen spends time with her husband and cat, and her two kids when they are home from college, and stays active with hot Pilates, yoga, swimming, and hiking.
Jill Beguhn
Jill is a career educator as well as a proud Tremont parent. After earning a combined BS/MS in Special Education from Lesley College, she embarked on a 25+ year commitment to education. Her varied experiences include serving as Interdisciplinary Case Manager at a specialized school serving children experiencing emotional, learning or developmental disabilities and working as an independent consultant to create and implement physical activities for neurodiverse children. While serving recently as a Lead Teacher at a nursery school, she played a key role in developing a modified business model that enabled the school to be financially-and mission-viable during the Covid crisis. Jill has served as a parent ambassador for Tremont School, participating in meetings with potential parents, students and staff. She lives with her husband, Shawn (another active Tremont volunteer) and her three children in Concord, MA.
Will Barker
Will Barker is the parent of a Tremont high schooler and appreciates Tremont’s success in generating his son’s enthusiasm for learning. Professionally, Will is a retired technology consultant who focused his career on order management solutions for retailers, leading cross-functional teams of engineers to design, implement, improve, or fix solutions. His education background includes an MBA and MS in Finance from Northeastern University. Will has extensive experience volunteering in non-profit organizations, such as Kimball Union Academy (trustee/alumni council), Newton-Wellesley/MGH Brigham hospital network as a member of various committees and the Board of Overseers/Advisors, Minuteman and Acton-Boxborough school districts as PAC and SEPAC officers, and as a director of a family foundation. Will lives in Acton with his wife, two sons and a spoiled dog.
Robyn Dollar
Robyn is an attorney specializing in Medicaid fraud and health care litigation. She is also the proud parent of a Tremont middle-schooler. Robyn received her undergraduate degree in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and her law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. Before joining the Office of the Attorney General, she worked in private practice focusing on healthcare, pharmaceutical, product liability, employment, and commercial litigation. Robyn is a dedicated advocate for the rights of individuals with disabilities and speaks frequently to future educators and healthcare providers on the topic. Robyn previously served on the Board of Trustees of the Atrium School in Watertown, MA. Robyn lives in Newton with her husband, Ben, and her children, Jack and Charlotte (Tremont Class of 2030).
Dr. Laniesha Gray
Laniesha is the Director of Equity and Inclusion at Shady Hill School, where she leads efforts to cultivate an inclusive and equitable environment. A dedicated educator, school administrator, and independent school alum, Laniesha brings a wealth of experience to her work. Laniesha holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Boston College, an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Northeastern University, and a B.A. in Political Science and English from Columbia College. Laniesha started her career as an English teacher. She is deeply committed to women’s rights and has led many workshops on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), cultural proficiency, and gender inequity. Additionally, she serves on the Alumni Council for The Steppingstone Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping underserved students access educational opportunities that lead to college success, and on the Association of Independent Schools New England (AISNE) Student Conference Steering Committee. Outside of her professional commitments, Laniesha enjoys 70s and 80s soul music, buffalo wings, and spontaneous dance parties—though not necessarily in that order.
Ex-Officio Trustees with a 1-or 2-Year Term
Michelle Cannon (TPAC Trustee - 1 year term)
Michelle is the parent of a Tremont high schooler and has been a TPAC High School Co-chair this past year, and will move into the TPAC Advisor role for the coming year. Michelle brings 20+ years as an education professional in strategic, operational, and instructional leadership in public and independent schools and education non-profits. Most recently, Michelle designed the Early College program at Fenway High School in Boston with partnerships with Wentworth Institute of Technology and UMass Boston through grants from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Before that, Michelle served as key administrator at BU Academy, transitioning that school from start-up to sustainable in creating operational, enrollment, and academic systems and school culture. In her early career, she developed out of school-time programs at The Steppingstone Foundation to help Boston school-children get on the path to college. A graduate of Harvard College with a degree in Classics and a M. Ed. from UMass Boston in Education Administration, Michelle lives with her husband and two teenage boys in Dorchester.
Dinah Borden (TPAC Trustee - 2 year term)
Dinah is a parent of a Tremont middle schooler with a passionate appreciation for the Tremont approach to working with neurodiverse and gifted students. She has professional experience in land conservation and event planning, formerly working for non-profit organizations including Mass Audubon. She grew up in New Jersey and earned her BA from Rutgers University in Environmental Planning and Natural Resource Management, and has lived in Massachusetts for the past 20 years. Dinah currently volunteers for community organizations including a local soup kitchen and is a Scout Den Leader. She enjoys spending time outdoors, playing games and cooking with her kids, and working on home improvement projects. She lives in Woburn with her husband, Christian, and 2 sons, Silas (a Tremont middle schooler) and Oliver.