Spring has sprung at The Harley School and I can't believe the academic year is winding down. We ended April on a highnote (no pun intended) with the Upper School Musical, Little Shop of Horrors. Maria Scipione (Upper School Drama, 2005-present) and her talented troupe brought down the house with raucous performances each night. One teacher commented on seeing some of her normally reserved students in a new way, "The show was amazing...but I can't unsee some of things I saw." Acting at its finest!

We now kickoff May, a busy, stressful, yet fun month for all! We have music concerts, SAT's, AP exams, field trips, and, surprisingly, Lower School Pageant (moved from its usual December date). This month also brings the elusive May Day, and that always keeps everyone on their anticipatory toes.

Happy Spring!

—Karen

THE HARLEY SCHOOL• Dr. Kathryn Kaiser’s Office • April 9, 2024

Update on Harley Direction

 Our community continues to work towards the comprehensive sustainability of the Harley School through four measurable and interdependent focus areas by 2025: Community, Academic, Environmental, Fiscal.

Community moments

The Scoop Sheet has presented many student-led initiatives for gathering all year including one happening now at The Indian Heritage Museum in Macedon. They are hosting a new free exhibit this month focused on plant-based living and the yoga of B.K.S. Iyengar. Everyone is invited on weekends from March 30–April 28th from noon–5:00pm. I plan to visit this month and learn more about the community.

Our Upper School students dedicated a full day before Spring Break to service in the Rochester community. They participated in a variety of acts of service, including preparing a meal at St. Peter’s Kitchen, and supporting organizations such as the Eastern Service Workers’ Union, Center for Youth, The Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence (photo above is from the clean-up there), and InterVol. Our students also read to young children at School #15 and performed for seniors at The Highlands of Pittsford. In addition to acts of service around the city, students also hosted students from School of the Arts, and helped to prepare our gardening spaces and cleared the trail behind the school. We thank the students for their hard work in the Pollinator Garden and Wild Wood at Harley. They prepared the fire circle for the Grade 2 overnight, refurbished the pollinator path, and built “Bee Teepees.” Who will see the first pollinator? What kind will it be? How many varieties can we attract? Enjoy Nature respectfully and thank an Upper Schooler for how nice these spaces look!

Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion

We'll be acknowledging Arab American Heritage Month and Neurodiversity Awareness Month, while also recognizing the Day of (No) Silence on April 12th. We have many achievements and history to share with our children from these important perspectives. Ramadan is ending this week and Eid al-Fitr begins immediately after. 

Harley students are invited to participate in a special regional event for LGBTQ+ youth (Grades 6-12), GSA advisors, allies, and families on April 13 from 10 am–1:00 pm. GSA Affinity Day offers a chance to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, build connections, and foster a sense of belonging. The day features keynote speaker, Brittan Hardgers, student-led workshops, a collective art space, and more! Adults play an important role in creating affirming learning environments for LGBTQ+ youth and on April 13, GSA Affinity Day will be hosted for students in Grades 6-12 from 10 am-1:00 pm for school communities across the region. Harley students and families are invited to participate. Scan the QR code on the graphic to register.

Grade 4 students have studied the Indigenous community of the Rochester area this year. Their work culminates in a student designed and commissioned Wampum Belt, representing a visual land acknowledgement for our school. This beautiful gift will be presented to the school on April 30 at an assembly for all students. They have been working with Rich Hamell; (now-retired) professor, archaeologist and paleontologist, Rochester resident, and affiliate of Ganondagan State Historic Site as a long-time docent and friend of the site. Hamell is well known for his expertise in weaving Wampum belts and making beads. He will return to Harley’s gallery to work with the students this week so they can individually add beads to the Wampum Belt they designed.

Academic Highlights

We were visited last month by the New York State Association of Independent Schools for our 5-year reaccreditation. The visiting committee included two administrators from Buffalo and a Head of School from New York City. They were remarkably impressed with our academic program and observed a culturally-responsive science unit that tied lessons on cell biology with the history of unethical practices performed on people of color like Henrietta Lacks, as well as enslaved women Lucy, Betsey, and Anarcha. They wrote to the National Association to express appreciation for the innovative and meaningful teaching happening at Harley.

Environmental Action

At Harley, our N-12 students learn about sustainability from a perspective of balance. The environment, the community, and the economy are all interdependent and Commons programs are opportunities for students, teachers, and community members to explore, question, and experience the different dimensions of sustainability. Learning builds on the past, is attentive to the present, and aims for a viable future. The curriculum of the Commons incorporates inquiry-based learning, emphasizes student voice, and aims to create opportunities for students to make meaning from what they are learning. 

In the Commons Series, local and regional leaders facilitate discussions about mindfulness, empathy, environmental sustainability, civic engagement, and inquiry-driven exploration. This month we are featuring Harley parent Leslie Kass P ‘26, ‘28, CEO of Lewis Services and Abby McHugh-Grifa from Climate Solutions Accelerator as our speakers. They will be discussing how we transition from our current energy sources to more sustainable alternatives; and the impact of shifting to more sustainable energy sources on economics, infrastructure, community, and culture. Leslie will work with students at Harley during the day and you are all invited to join us on April 23 in the BCCE at 6:30 pm for her community talk. 

Fiscal Sustainability

The BLAST! Gala was a resounding success in March! Thanks to all who joined us, your support directly impacts our school year and summer programs at Harley. We were especially impacted by our student representatives from our Hospice program. It was a truly beautiful evening at a fantastic downtown venue.

Mark your calendars! June 3rd, 2024 is the date for a special celebration of the 30th anniversary of Horizons at Harley. This program is one of the longest-running of its kind in the country, and we're thrilled to commemorate this milestone with a fun-filled golf tournament and dinner (or dinner only if you aren’t a golfer) at Brooke-Lea Country Club. Tickets are now available! Order yours here.

For the past 30 years, this mutually beneficial and meaningful educational opportunity has enriched the lives of both summer students, Saturday School participants, and year-round Harley students.

Through your participation in the Harley Annual Fund BLAST! Gala and Horizons 30th Anniversary Golf Tournament, you help inspire current and future generations through your support.

Yours,

Kathryn

Dr. Kathryn Kaiser

Transitional Head of School

The Harley School

Grade 2 students collaborating to code robots.

Please plan to join us in supporting your great school from May 13-17, because the Heart of Harley Week of Giving is coming! There will be matching gift opportunities, games, giveaways, raffles and more!

For our local alumni, plan to join hosts Jess Bonds '06, Maggie Lloydhauser '11, Dez Morrow '17, and Ulrik Soderstrom '11 at John's Tex-Mex for a Heart of Harley Alumni Happy Hour on Wednesday, May 15 from 5-6:30.

Must be 21 or over to attend. Harley will provide food and beverage options. All you need to do is make a gift of $10 or more to the Harley Fund! All attendees will be entered into a raffle to win a basket of Harley School bling!

Click here to sign-up! Kindly RSVP by Wednesday, May 8.

Dear Harley Friends,

On behalf of the entire Harley community, I would like to express my gratitude and deep appreciation for the outpouring of support and generosity we received during our signature events, Silent Auction Silent Disco in February and BLAST! in April.

Thanks to your generous support, we received over $105,000 in donations for BLAST! These funds, combined with over $20,000 from Silent Auction Silent Disco, total over $125,000 to support the important missions of the Harley School and Horizons at Harley. None of this would be possible without you!

We couldn’t have done it without all of our sponsors, donors, staff, students, parents, alumni, and volunteers who helped make BLAST! a success! It was wonderful to have so many of our faculty and staff members present to enjoy an evening celebrating everything that is Harley. This year, students in Hospice class spoke about their upcoming service opportunity in North Andover and raised $4,000 toward this student trip. We hope to open this up to more students next year. You can take pride in knowing that, because of your generosity, we can continue to provide a life-changing education that allows our students to impact our world.

Warm regards,

Eboné Creighton P '33, Associate Director of Major Gifts

Gorgeous new venue this year: Arbor Midtown

Student volunteers

Last year's emcees welcoming the guests: Jonathan Ntheketha P '29, '31, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (2021-present) and Courtney Winslow P '29, '26, '32

Board President, Ted Townsend '98, P '32, '33

Transitional Head of School, Dr. Kathryn Kaiser (2023-present)

Members of our alumni community joined us that evening: Maddy August '07, Bob August P '07, '11, Joseph Maurici '04 (bidding) and Matt Present '04

Emcees Joe Ellis P '21, '23 and Chris D'Orso

Uptown Groove inspired us to dance!

Bryan Wang '14 stopped by my office to talk about his upcoming Reunion and through our conversation, I learned that he was a singer/songwriter and guitarist. I had a chance to go to his performance in the Rickles Room at Comedy at the Carlson and it was amazing—see for yourself!

Bryan shared about the song:

The song is called "Catalyst." I think it's essentially about the inner turmoil that comes with catching feelings for someone. Certainly there was someone specific in mind when I was writing this song, haha, though I did not "intend" to write it about her. Initially I was revisiting a couple of songs by an artist named Ben Howard who writes a lot in different guitar tunings. My guitar was in an alternate tuning and I stumbled upon a chord progression I liked and the words just sort of flowed out I suppose. I had my notes app open on my phone which helped with some lyric ideas, but overall it was a pretty smooth process.

If you want to hear more of Bryan's music, go to linktree.com/bryanwangmusic.

Zainab Khan '93 recently debuted a new book, Noura's Crescent Moon.

Zainab shared:

A portion of my book proceeds are going to an organization that for cares and educates orphans in eleven different countries. Givelight.org was founded when founder, Dian Alyan, lost 40 members of her family in the 2006 tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia.

My goal is to get as many books as possible into the hands of kids to promote empathy and diversity as well as raise funds for the children of Givelight.org. I would also hope that we can get my book into the hands of these orphans.

About the book:

Noura's Crescent Moon by Nainab Khan, illistrated by Nabila Adani.

Released in April 2024.

Noura can't wait for the sun to go down. The month of Ramadan is almost over, and she and Mana and Papa are headed for the hills for a moonsighting picnic It would be truly special if Noura's first fast ended with a glimpse of a silvery crescent in the night sky. If the moon stays hidden, that means one more long day before Noura gets to put on her sparkly new dress and the joyful Eid celebrations begin!

Moon or no moon, Noura's spirit shimmers and her pride glows.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy go to Amazon!

In March, the alumni newsletter featured a story about Harley alumna and actress, Miranda Blood '17. She was recently in the production of The Company Theater's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. My family and I had a chance to go and see it and it was fantastic—what a talented group! Miranda's part as Mae (above directing her children as they sing a song at Big Daddy's birthday party) was a highlight!

Scan the QR code below to learn more about the talented performers!

All are welcome to join us on Saturday, June 22 for two special events. Join us for our noon brunch as we honor this year's Life of Purpose Alumni Award winners, Darcy Kimmet Koreen '92 and Kristina Benjamin '15.

Later that afternoon, join us in the Wilson Theater as we celebrate the wonderful Bill Dalton, Harley English teacher from 1971-1998.

Darcy Kimmet Koreen '92 has dedicated her professional life in the public social services protecting children. She began her career as a social worker for children living in foster care and group homes and is now an Adolescent Team Supervisor for the Children's Aid Society of Toronto, the largest board run child protection agency in North America. She has led initiatives to develop strategies to address anti-Black racism, suicide prevention, and create innovative care models for children who can’t live at home. 

As a student from the University of Dayton, Kristina Benjamin '15 helped to implement an initiative for fellow athletes with a focus on self-care and their mental health. Later she participated in a program where she spent six weeks in Jamaica visiting local elementary schools to speak with students about their human rights. Post college, she joined the team at Girls Inc. advocating for issues affecting young women and girls. She is now an Assistant for Public Engagement in the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Transportation.

You will have a chance to hear more from our winners on June 22. Hope you can join us!

Click here to RSVP for this and any of our weekend activities.

We lost our dear Bill Dalton P '82, '85, '87 (English 1971-1998) in March.

I met Bill early in my time at Harley and got to know one of the sweetest, kindest souls I've ever known. Though I didn't see him very often, he would call or email me through the years to gather contact information for alumni he wanted to connect with...and there were many! When he was able to attend Reunion, alumni would rush to him. He was so beloved.

In my first meeting with him, I learned about his time with the "Ratz", where he worked with a crew of students building stage sets for Harley theater productions. He beamed about the fun and antics of the group over the years. Two of his "Ratz" got in touch with me recently and asked how we could celebrate Bill over Reunion weekend. We decided on "Chicken and Beer" in the Wilson Theater! The plan is for the chicken from Country Sweets, a Ratz crew favorite. It will be a casual affair with no formal speeches, just a group of people that loved Bill getting together to honor him. We hope you will join us June 22 from 4-6pm.

Click here to RSVP for this and any of our weekend activities.

I received many messages after I announced Bill's passing. Here is just a small sample of ones I received. I plan to display them in full at the event in June. If you have a message that you would like me to include that weekend, please email me at ksaludo@harleyschool.org.

Alice Rubenstein P '92, '95: I’m one of those parents who has saved cartons of their children’s schoolwork. Jennifer and Heather “grew up” at Harley, graduating in 1992

and 1995. A few months ago, I began going through the many cartons that

represented their years at Harley, and there I spotted some of the many

papers they had written in Bill Dalton's English class. They were not hard to

spot, as only Bill Dalton could print with the precision of typed text. His

comments were numerous, thought-provoking, encouraging, and often

humorous. They reminded me of the energy and excitement my children

brought home when they shared vignettes of happenings in Bill's English

class. Bill was not only a master teacher, but he was also an insightful and

trusted confident who offered guidance when the challenges of being in

Middle School just felt like too much. I will forever be grateful to Bill Dalton

for the gifts he gave to both of my children.

Alex DeSantis P '84 (English 1971-2009): Bill and I started to work at Harley in the Fall of 1971. I soon realized that he was a wise, graceful, and generous man. He understood humans were not perfect, and that their lives could be full of sorrows. He did all he could to ease those realities with patience, humor, and kindness. Sometimes he wore cowboy outfits: jeans, western style shirts, and boots. Sometimes he wore button down shirts, ties, and suits.

His work in theatre was a marvel of education. He created an environment for kids to become people who were different from them. In doing that, they learned new things about who they were. They also learned to be part of an ensemble and not just star performers.

I would like to leave you in his honor not with a passage from a religious text or philosophical speculation, but with the lyrics of a song:

Dancing in the Dark

Refrain

Dancing in the dark,

'Till the tune ends

We're dancing in the dark,

And it soon ends.

We're waltzing in the wonder

Of why we're here.

Time hurries by, we're here

And gone,

Looking for the light

Of a new love

To brighten up the night.

I have you, love,

And we can face the music together,

Dancing in the dark.

Doug Gilbert '87: I am so sorry to learn of Bill's passing. He was a good man as well as a great man. He helped so many of us learn to think and learn to care. It is with good reason that the Dalton Humanities Award is presented each year to a Harley in Grade 8 who resonates with the ideas and skills Bill helped to introduce to us so long ago when we were younguns. He was a deeply humane person, and I loved him for it. I mourn his passing but look forward to opportunities to celebrate his life. See you all soon as we gather to honor and remember Bill.

Steve White '81: When I joined the Harley community, in Grade 10, it felt like I was getting on a train filled with passengers who had already been on a long journey and I was the "new guy" trying to figure out which car would be most comfortable. When I found The Ratz I found "my people." Bill was a genius at creating a tight knit band where you could be yourself, but also feel the cohesion of a like-minded team. He helped us learn how to challenge authority and conventions in the name of high-reaching creativity. The lessons we learned during those late-night build sessions and frantic production execution stayed with all of us and fostered a whole community of folks who would make the arts their careers. Buzz knew how to teach, inspire and let the flock fly free. And, he also introduced us to a canon of music that is still on frequent rotation in my household: Commander Cody, Little Feat, The CDB, etc...Thanks Bill.  

Heather Rubenstein Collins '95: Mr. Dalton was my Grade 8 English teacher at Harley. My husband and I named our daughter, Juniper (“Juno”) Dalton Collins, after him. I wanted to do this because Mr. Dalton helped me and hundreds of other kids find their voices. He had such a profound impact on my life. I can still picture his kind eyes so clearly, even all these years later.

I don’t ever remember Mr. Dalton raising his voice, but I do remember that we, his students, paid attention to him. My classmates and I wanted to do right by him. It was in his English class that I first learned that there can be so much more to a novel than is initially apparent. He introduced us to Shakespeare, and so many other amazing authors. I know he laid the groundwork for my interest in listening to stories.

Mr. Dalton also taught me about journaling and writing my feelings. It seemed like I could share my inner everything with him because he was open to receiving it. For me as a 12 year old, having a teacher who welcomed hearing all I had to say, even if it was all over the place and lacking commas, was really impactful. I felt like what I thought—and what I wrote—mattered, even if it was about how upset I was that I wasn’t included on other kids’ plan to wear matching outfits to school the next day. He didn’t make me feel like the little Middle School stuff—that felt so big to me at the time—was inconsequential.

Juno is learning to write her letters now. I told her about Mr. Dalton’s handwriting and how it always made me feel like he really cared, because he took the time to make his letters look so beautiful.

I was able to reconnect with Bill in 2017, after 28 years, to tell him about the impact he made on my life and that we named our daughter after him. It turns out my daughter has the same birthday as his wife, Kathy! Every year on their shared birthday, March 1st, he sent her a card. That meant so much to us.

I am sad that Juno and Mr. Dalton never got to meet. Covid and geographic distance got in the way. I will continue to tell her about this remarkable man and all the students whose lives he touched. I know I am not alone in my gratitude for having been one of his students. I hope that, even if she does not achieve quite the same level of penmanship, that my daughter will carry on his caring and inquisitive spirit.

And I promise that every time I see a gentleman in a bowtie I will smile and think of Mr. Dalton with love.

Dexter Lewis (Headmaster 1977-1982): I remember Bill as a gentle, caring man who was the essence of Harley.

Jennifer C. Rubenstein '92: Mr. Dalton was my Grade 6 English and History teacher at Harley in 1985-6. He had an enormous impact on me. I have thought of him so often since then: tweed jacket, twinkly eyes, gravelly voice (“Isn’t it sexy?” he once said to us, scandalously). He always told us to be specific, so what follows are some examples of his impact. (He also said to avoid lists, but I was an obstinate student.)

Every time I say something that I realize in retrospect I should not have said (which happens often), I think of a line that Mr. Dalton emphasized to us, from A Day No Pigs Would Die: “Never miss a chance to keep your mouth closed.” 

Every time I wrestle with language, trying to find the right words (again, this happens often) I think about the exacting procedure we went through in Mr. Dalton’s English class, of writing a description of some household item—a sneaker, a stuffed monkey, a ballet slipper, a belt buckle—and receiving back his pithy comments, written in tiny capital letters not even half as tall as the distance between the ruled lines of the paper on which he wrote. His comment on my description of a piece of toast, dated 10/2/85: “You still like to make unnecessary value judgments. They don’t help.” Thirty-nine years later, this remains unnervingly accurate. (What value judgments could I possibly have been making about a piece of toast?) But the other lessons—about the value of detailed description and perseverance—have stayed with me.

Every time I feel like the past is a totally different and inscrutable world, I think of the ways that Mr. Dalton made it so vivid and relatable to us. He somehow got access to town records in Penfield, which enabled us to write diary entries from the perspective of real people who had lived there in the 1850s. I remember the thrill of reading those records; it was one of the first times that I really thought of history as requiring imaginatively putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. I still have my diary, which I tried to make look old by burning the edges of the pages. I’m not sure if we actually went to a cemetery and saw the graves of the people we wrote about, or if I am just imagining that part, but either way, Mr. Dalton helped make history come alive.

Every time I try to help my own students with their writing (I am a college professor), I think about how Mr. Dalton teamed up with the art teacher, Mrs. Allen, to create an opportunity for some students in our class to do art and then write about it. While I didn’t end up doing that assignment, I remember appreciating how creative it was. It was the first time that I realized that the same type of observation that informs drawing could also inform writing. Perhaps doing this assignment would have made me less judgmental about toast.

I wish I could remember what book prompted it (maybe Shakespeare?), but I remember where I was sitting in Mr. Dalton’s classroom (about the 3rd row back, a little to the left) when he knocked our collective socks off by explaining the otherwise incomprehensible behavior of the boys in our class through some author’s description of lovesickness and flirtation. It was miraculous, really. Like ESP. I think Mr. Dalton also taught us about unconditional love, which has come in handy in my role as a parent.

A few months ago, a car crashed into the window of my daughter’s Grade 6 English and history teacher’s classroom. Fortunately, no one was hurt. A few days later, I visited the interior of the classroom and saw the boarded-up window. My immediate response was to gasp under my breath “the Defenestration of Prague!” You see, not one, but TWO people fell out of the window of Mr. Dalton’s classroom during our Grade 6 year. (The window opened to another rooftop, so the fall wasn’t far.) Both times, Mr. Dalton made sure no one was hurt, then he chuckled slightly and immediately launched into telling us about the Defenestration of Prague (the one in 1618, that led to the 30 Years War). It really left an impression.

A final memory—a precious one, that students today will never experience. On the first day of Grade 6, Mr. Dalton gave us fair warning that he never cleaned the erasers in his classroom. That way, if we ever weren’t paying attention, he could subtly meander to the back of the classroom holding an eraser, and then wail it at board as hard as he could, creating a huge cloud of chalk dust and (presumably) regaining our attention. We waited and waited, and then, one day…he did it! THWACK! It was just as thrilling and hilarious as you would imagine. Perhaps more so.

All these words later, I still feel like I haven’t begun to convey the insight, humor, integrity, calmness, and dedication, the warm intelligence and evenhandedness, of Mr. Dalton. It was such an immense gift to have been his student, and to have known him.

Allison Urban-Spillane ’16, a Harley School lifer, isn't your typical digital product designer. Her path to building healthcare apps for telehealth company, Health Recovery Solutions (HRS), started at Harley with her artistic curiosity, participation in student support services, and involvement in Harley’s Hospice program.

As a Lower Schooler, learning to read is difficult enough, but for Allison, struggling with dyslexia, it was daunting. Allison was quickly connected with Moira Prister P ’10, ’16, a teacher for Harley’s Student Support Program (SSP) from 2000-2017. They worked diligently together for several years and Mrs. Prister taught her the importance of self-advocacy and perseverance. Allison learned to ask for extra time and consistently practice, and her reading skills improved dramatically. These formative experiences not only helped her dyslexia, but also instilled a deep empathy for users with accessibility needs. 

In Upper School, when Allison was putting together her schedule, she took a look at some of her visual art options. “I was always interested in the more unusual art classes at Harley like glass blowing, pottery, and metalworking.” When she saw photography on the list, she was intrigued and Michael Gaffney’s (Digital Media, 2012-2014) class was a game changer. His focus on art in the digital realm showed Allison the possibilities of using technology as a creative tool and she was excited to experiment. 

"I think I would have been a C student at any other school," Allison reflects. "At college I did a capstone on digital accessibility and I visited other schools with 1 teacher for 40 kids in a classroom. I could see those kids in need of extra help getting lost. Harley gave me the resources and support I needed to succeed." This included David O'Brien's P ’19 (English, 2011-present) English class, where weekly self-reflection essays boosted her confidence in her writing skills. By the time she reached college at Stevens Institute of Technology, English had become one of her strongest subjects.

When Allison was looking at colleges she told her college counselor, Larry Frye P ’12, ’15, ’15 (Head of the Upper School, 2004-2018, Head of School, 2018-2023), she had three requirements: solid arts and science programs and a fencing team (she started fencing in Grade 6!). After they pulled together a list, it came down to two options, RIT and Stevens. Allison chose Stevens because they allowed her to look at the available program options and create her own distinct experience. In addition to majoring in Visual Arts and Technology, she minored in marketing analytics, science communications, and science technology and society. This unique combination allowed her to bridge the gap between her want for creativity and user-centered design. 

While in college, Allison secured an internship at Health Recovery Solutions. Much of her focus at school had been on graphic design and here, she was exposed to the world of product design. She quickly learned that product design was the perfect blend of her art and science skills. She also felt a real connection to the company due to their work with hospice patients. The apps she was building were creating a communication system between hospice nurses and patient families. Due to her experience with her own Hospice patients while participating in Harley’s program, she had an insider's look at the needs on both sides. The internship fostered a desire to create tools that could make a real difference in people's lives. The organization was so impressed with her work that they hired her. Allison was quite busy her senior year at Stevens. Not only was she taking classes and working at HRS, but she was also hired (by an anonymous tip from a professor who saw great potential in her) as the web designer for the Steven’s School of Finance.

Today, Allison thrives in her role as a digital product designer at Health Recovery Solutions. “I was always more of a 3D artist…dimension, touch, and learning about how people interact with the world have been and still are a large part of why I love design!” 

Beyond academics, Allison shared that Harley also fostered the importance of teamwork and dedication through her participation in athletics, particularly swimming under Coach Lorie Rick (Physical Education, 1999-present). These experiences taught her valuable lessons in work ethic, discipline, and the joy of helping others – skills that now translate to her role at HRS and as a fencing coach for Steven’s varsity team. She swam on the team as a student all four years.

Outside of work and fencing, Allison, always wanting to challenge herself, trains for half-marathons. She runs with her sister Lia ’17, who lives in Connecticut. So far they have done half marathons in Philadelphia, Jersey City, and are preparing for one in Washington DC.

James Messner '13 was recently promoted to Senior Vice President at Mercury Public Affairs, a bipartisan government relations and strategic communications firm in Washington, D.C. He credits his passion for government and politics to Harley’s history teachers, Doug Gilbert ’87, P ’21, ’24, ’27 (Middle School History, 1999-present), Kristin Sheradin (Upper School History, 2007-present), Sandy Foster P '19, '19 (Upper School History, 1997-2022), and Bill Schara (Upper School History, 1997-2021, 2022-23).

After graduating from Harley, James ventured to Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, majoring in political science. During his tenure, he was active in the college's Institute of Politics, which hosted New Hampshire's Democratic and Republican primary debates in 2016. Upon graduation in 2017, James began working at FP1 Strategies, a communications and political consulting firm specializing in public affairs, political advertising, and crisis communications. Immersed in the dynamic landscape of public affairs campaigns, James witnessed firsthand the strategic use of media to sway audiences and lawmakers in support of wide-ranging issues.

Wanting to transition from public affairs to Congressional politics, James saw an opportunity to work with U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. He was hired as the Deputy Political Director, overseeing fundraising and political strategy for Leader Scalise's Leadership PAC, which raised over $100 million throughout the 2020 and 2022 election cycles. As a trusted aide to the now-House Majority Leader, James developed robust connections with many Members of Congress and their staff. This work helped to facilitate alliances within Congress, helping to advance legislative priorities.

After three and a half years in the political arena, James sought a new path that could use his skills to promote bipartisan policy. For the past year, he has worked at Mercury Public Affairs for various clients in the renewable energy, financial services, agriculture, emerging technology, and crypto industry. As a government relations strategist, he helps businesses navigate the intersection of politics and policy. 

James shared that among his diverse group of clients, he particularly enjoys working with Congressional and Administration officials as the federal government seeks to establish a generative artificial intelligence (AI) legislative framework. He represents AI-related clients, including Shutterstock, Inc., the leading global creative platform connecting brands and businesses to over 200 million stock images, videos, and music. James engages regularly with Senate Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and the White House as they plan to release their AI regulatory framework later this year. James explained that, “AI models can only learn from data input. If those data sets contain gaps and biased information, the output will likely also be prejudiced.” Shutterstock is identifying lapses and bias within its massive content library and dedicating resources to correct and expand imaging needs by funding underrepresented creators and countering bias. "The example we use on Capitol Hill to lawmakers is if you asked an AI machine in training to create an image of a surfer, the machine would almost always create a white, blonde-haired male riding a wave off a California beach. So, Shutterstock is proactively expanding photoshoots from Pacific Islands to the coasts of West Africa, employing local photographers."

James also works on other significant projects like agriculture technology funding for predictive modeling, a government-funded program through the Department of Agriculture that alerts farmers of airborne and soil diseases through an App. He represents Rover.com, the pet-service platform, as it seeks to correct a tax issue for gig-economy workers, and James lobbies for ExxonMobil's division of carbon capture, a technology that captures the carbon dioxide before it is released to the atmosphere, a critical component for the U.S. reaching global climate goals. “The political headlines are always negative, and the national mood is volatile, but I have a lot of hope for our country’s future. Having the opportunity to meet with so many lawmakers on either end of the political spectrum, I see a lot of bipartisanship and common ground. The key is starting a dialog and understanding people’s concerns.” In James' role, he regularly connects with Republican and Democratic Members of Congress, policy staffers, and senior campaign staffers, and he credits Harley’s inclusive and inquiry-based learning as a critical factor in his bipartisan relationships.

Looking back at his Harley education, James praised Harley’s English department. The writing classes taught by Kim McDowell (English, History, College Counseling, Upper School Head, 2000-2022), Bob Kane (English and Hospice, 2003-2013), David O'Brien P ’19 (English, 2011-present), and Pat Malone P ’20 (English, 2009-present) equipped him with a mastery of persuasive writing, a cornerstone for his professional success. He said, "The skills I learned from the entire English department are invaluable to my work today.” 

“You have to do things you are not good at to become better!

—Jenny Scudder ‘14

Jenny Scudder ’14, a Harley lifer, took advantage of all that Harley had to offer. Whether she was dribbling a basketball on the courts, delving into her academics, with a focus on math and business, or spending her summers working at Horizons at Harley, Jenny embraced every opportunity with gusto. It was at Harley that she first learned the value of understanding the "why" behind things and the importance of seeing multiple perspectives—a lesson that would shape her future endeavors.

Her passion for learning led her to St. Lawrence University, where she continued to play basketball, while immersing herself in a double major in math and business management, with a minor in education. It was during her education classes that Jenny would hear examples of how to better prepare yourself for the classroom that were reminiscent of her own Harley experiences. “I felt lucky that I went to Harley!”

But it was a pivotal summer internship at eBay in sunny California that truly set Jenny on her path. Over 12 weeks, she delved into the world of corporate finance, relishing the opportunity to learn something new every day. Her exceptional performance led to a rare invitation back through the Finance Futures Program, a testament to her dedication and talent.

For the next four years, Jenny thrived at eBay, rotating through different aspects of finance and soaking up knowledge. Her time at Harley had taught her the importance of stepping outside one's comfort zone, and Jenny took on every challenge that came her way.

Now, at Apple, Jenny has found her perfect fit as the leader of the Finance for the US Education Team. Drawing on her experiences at Harley and St. Lawrence, she seamlessly combines her love for finance with her passion for working with young students. Whether she's devising strategies or crunching numbers, Jenny understands that behind every statistic lies a compelling story waiting to be told.

Reflecting on her journey, Jenny is grateful for the well-rounded education she received at Harley. From academics to athletics, Harley instilled in her the values of teamwork, perseverance, and empathy. And while her path may have differed from those who attended Ivy League colleges, Jenny feels just as adept and prepared, thanks to the foundational education she received at Harley.

Mike Hurd '93 and his partner Jordan Lockaby visited school (above)

(below) Chris Hartman '93, P '22, '24 (Social and Environmental Sustainability, 2007-2016), Vicki Perovich Hartman '93, P '22, '24, and Mike Hurd '93 got together for the eclipse.

Elizabee Oddleifson Nash '82 recently celebrated a birthday and several of her friends from Harley were able to attend.

Fati Ziai '82 and Elizabee

Charlie Stuard '82 was wearing a Ukrainian shirt with acorns & oak leaves at the party. So Harley!

Tim Douglas '82 and Lee Gartley '82

Susie Mees Longfield '82 and Steve Naramore '82

Jason Murante '88, who was in town from Colorado, stopped by for a tour with his sons Harrison and Connolly.

Henry Smith '14 (Assistant to the Head of the Upper School (2022-present) and Bryan Wang '14

Melissa Mueller-Douglas P '30, '35, a member of the class of 2005, speaking at the Women Elevating Women Conference.

Kirsten Allen Brown '90, P '20, '26 (Middle School English 1999-2018, Director of Enrollment, 2018-present), Karen Saludo P '27 (Alumni and Development, 2004-present), Anne Ghory-Goodman, Ward Ghory (Head of School, 2013-2018)