Mary Lyon Foundation
About Us
The Mary Lyon Foundation Inc. was established in 1990 and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization on March 8, 1991. It is a community-based organization, supporting all aspects of quality education in the towns of Ashfield, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Hawley, Heath, Plainfield, Rowe, and Shelburne, as well as occasional outreach in other Franklin County and Connecticut River Valley towns.
Vision: The Foundation’s vision is for all students to have the resources to be ready to learn, to succeed in school and to thrive in the wider world.
Mission: The Foundation’s mission is to empower students and their families by advocating for community investment in programs and services.
Succeeding Sue Samoriski as Founding Executive Director, 26-year educator and administrator Kristen Tillona-Baker joined the Foundation in January of 2021 as the new Executive Director. It is with great pride that the foundation recently celebrated its 30th year of providing invaluable resources to students, families, and educators in the nine hilltown communities of northwestern Massachusetts. As the Foundation embarks on its next thirty years of service to our community, our mission is at the heart of all that we do to support our community.
our
vision
We ensure students have the resources to be ready to learn, to succeed in school and to thrive in the wider world.
our
mission
We empower students and their families by advocating for community investment in programs and services.
Mary Lyon Foundation
History
Mary Lyon (1797–1849)
Born on a small farm in Buckland, Massachusetts, and possessed of a prodigious mind from an early age, Mary Lyon was supported by her family and community in her quest for knowledge. By age seventeen she was a teacher herself, and soon after that a teacher of teachers.
While still in her twenties she founded a school in Buckland that rapidly drew perhaps as many as one hundred girls from the surrounding hilltowns. Drawing strength from the hills near Buckland, she fought for and achieved the principle of permanence for an institution of higher learning for women. She established Mount Holyoke Female Seminary (later Mount Holyoke College) in South Hadley, Massachusetts in 1837, creating the first institution of higher learning for women. Many of her pupils became teachers in the one-room schoolhouses of New England, pioneer teachers of the westward expansion, and missionaries who traveled as far away as Hawaii and Persia.
"Take care of your reading, writing and singing."
These words of wisdom were spoken by Mary Lyon, a 19th-century pioneer in women’s education and advocate for opportunity and quality education for all. The Mary Lyon Foundation is inspired by and takes its name from this renowned educator.
It is with great pride that the foundation recently celebrated its 30th year of providing invaluable resources to students, families, and educators in the nine hilltown communities of northwestern Massachusetts. As the Foundation embarks on another thirty years of service to our community, our mission is at the heart of all that we do to support our community.
Learn more about Mary Lyon:
Mount Holyoke College’s Mary Lyon Homepage
Documentary of Mary Lyon’s life
Where We
Serve
The Mary Lyon Foundation provides services and programs to all of the schools within our nine town area in northwestern Massachusetts. The towns we serve are Ashfield, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Hawley, Heath, Plainfield, Rowe, and Shelburne. The total population is 10,700. Geographically, the Mohawk Trail Regional School System is the largest and poorest in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with six schools encompassing 256 square miles in Franklin and Hampshire Counties.
For more information about the schools we serve:
Mohawk Trail/Hawlemont Regional School Districts
Buckland-Shelburne Elementary
Colrain Central Elementary
Hawlemont Regional School
Mohawk Trail Regional Schools
Rowe Elementary School
The Academy at Charlemont
Sanderson Academy
Meet the Board of
Trustees
John Cornman, Interim Board Chair, was elected to the Mary Lyon Foundation board in 2019 and helped chair the search committee for the new executive director in 2021. John recently retired from his position as a career advisor after working at Berkshire Community College for 10 years. Before working at BCC, he spent 25 years in various industries such as manufacturing, financial services, auto rental, and computer industries. Additionally, he founded and managed a human resources consulting firm to assist high-tech startups and served ten years as a college admissions counselor for high school students. He holds a B.A. from Parsons College and an M.S. from Illinois State University. John serves on the board of the Arms Library in Shelburne Falls and has several grandchildren attending schools in the Mohawk Trail District.
Peter Stevens, Vice Chair, spent his professional years first as a high school teacher, and then as a Head of School at two American international schools in Europe, and two independent schools here in the States, followed by a decade serving young people and families as an educational consultant. He earned his B.A. from Williams College and his M.A. from the University of Chicago before serving 30 months with the U.S. Peace Corps in upriver Malaysian Borneo. A 20-year Shelburne resident, Peter served on the board of the Arms Library in Shelburne Falls, is currently a member of the board of the Academy at Charlemont and chairs the board at the small, alternative boarding Oliverian School in New Hampshire. Peter is Vice-Chair of the Board of the MLF.
Karen Blom, Treasurer, recently joined the MLF board and now serves as the Secretary. She is currently the Town Clerk for Buckland after serving on the town Finance Committee for 10 years. She was co-owner of a local outdoor recreation business, Zoar Outdoor for 31 years before semi-retiring. She has a B.S. in Biochemistry and an M.S. in Nutrition from the University of Massachusetts/Amherst. She also serves on the Finance Committee and Diaconate at the Charlemont Federated Church.
Elle Miller, Recording Secretary, served as a pre-kindergarten Director and teacher at Colrain Elementary for 24 years before retiring in 2020. Throughout the years, she has served as the President of the Hawlemont Regional School Parent Teacher Organization, assisted the Local Education Council, served 20 years as a trustee at the Tyler Memorial Library, was a Council Member for the Community Partnership Grant, was a Board Member for the Chinese Immersion Charter School, and was a Colrain LEC Member. Elle lives in Charlemont with her husband, with whom she shares four children, all graduates of the Mohawk Trail Regional School, and has six small grandchildren she enjoys spending time with. An asset to the Mary Lyon Board, Elle has strong communication skills and flexible and reflective thinking skills. She enjoys working with people while making positive changes in the community. Elle is the Secretary of the Board of Trustees and regularly volunteers for our food delivery program.
Traci Ayer, Communications Director, is a seasoned consultant with more than 20 years of experience in brand management, marketing strategy, and communications, as well as hands-on expertise in general management. She has worked with organizations of all sizes to help develop business and marketing plans, launch new products, and learn how to communicate more effectively. Before starting her independent practice, Traci served as principal at Tiller LLC, where she consulted with Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits to design marketing platforms, and was Vice President and head of brand management at Deutsche Bank. Traci co-founded the nonprofit organization Houston Children Give Back and went on to serve on their board. She has also served on the marketing committee of Ronald McDonald House Houston and was President of the PTCO at Cherry Hills Village Elementary.
Arthur DeBow, Campaign Committee Chair, and his husband, William, moved to North Adams about six years ago from Portland, OR following William's retirement from the interior and furniture design business and Arthur's retirement from his career as a Curator/Exhibitions Director and Director of Alumni Affairs at the Oregon College of Art and Craft. As William was born in Greenfield, they started traveling to the area 40 years ago to visit his parents and fell in love with the area, knowing they would someday retire in the area. Arthur previously worked as the director of art galleries in Portland and New York. Additionally, he owned an art consulting business and conducted lectures and workshops around the county. Still a practicing artist, he has work displayed at the Shelburne Arts Co-op, where he serves on its board, and received the 2015 Oregon Art Education Association Higher Education Art Educator of the Year.
Jana Standish has worked in the Mohawk Trail Regional School District for over 30 years as an elementary school counselor. Jana loves her job and enjoys connecting with students and their families on a deep level about their lives, strengths, needs, and dreams. She lives in Colrain on a farm with her husband Bill and has raised three great kids on the working farm that local farmers have farmed for generations. Jana also has six grandchildren that she enjoys spending time with.
Susan White, the Director of Community and Volunteer Resources at LifePath, designs and implements strategies characterized by a long-term commitment to strengthen community relationships that increase access to services for vulnerable populations in Western Massachusetts. Two of Susan’s most memorable past professional experiences include facilitating a “Learning Exchange Workshop: Sexual Reproductive Health” with Nigerian and Mozambican youth; and the establishment of 48 Girls’ Groups in Quelimane, Mozambique. Susan’s service commitments include the Mary Lyon Foundation, Valley Medical Group Patient & Family Advisory Council, the Opioid Task Force, and Draft Gratitude. Susan has a deep commitment to inclusive programing.
Bev LaBelle is a retired Ashfield police officer who co-own's a catering business and two local convenience stores. She previously worked in special education at the Mohawk Trail School District, where her children graduated. In addition to serving the Mary Lyon Foundation, Bev is a Trustee of the Congregational Church in Ashfield. She and her wife, Janet Rogers, spend part of their time in California volunteering for numerous organizations helping feed the poor and homeless. They also founded the Rogers LaBelle Student Emergency Fund at the Greenfield Community College. You can find her on either of the Ashfield golf courses when she's not supporting the community or her philanthropic endeavors.
Ron L. James, inspirational speaker, storyteller, professional development trainer, entrepreneur, life coach, and author, recently joined the Mary Lyon Foundation's board of trustees. For 25+ years, Ron L James was in and out of prison because of choices. While in prison, he was encouraged to write his life story. As he wrote, he realized he did not like the man he had become. It was then that he began intentionally making different choices. Ten years ago, Ron was released from prison and has been a productive member of society ever since. He has been drug and alcohol-free for over sixteen years. He is passionate about helping others understand that they can avoid making the mistakes he made. As a result of this passion, he now shares his message across the country as a Keynote speaker for businesses, schools, and originations. His message on choices continues to influence and inspire people to help "Make their next choice their best choice."
Seth Wilschutz, whose daughter attends Buckland-Shelburne Elementary, relocated to Western Massachusetts with his family and dogs in 2019. He is a registered architect and the Assistant Director of Planning, Design, and Construction at Amherst College where he coordinates a team of professionals in long-term college planning and liaisons with architects, engineers, and the College on multiple multi-million dollar construction projects. Seth is also a member of the Shelburne Planning Board.
Danielle Thornton, CPA, is a new addition to the Mary Lyon Foundation Board after her passion for education and finance was noticed by a peer. She is currently the Assistant Controller at Deerfield Academy and has a background in public accounting, specifically with non profit organizations. She is looking forward to putting this knowledge to use supporting local students, families, and educators. Danielle lives in Springfield, MA with her husband Chris and their two cats - Barnabas and Mia. Together, Danielle and Chris enjoy hiking, running - participating in various half marathons, 10 milers, and 5Ks - as well as checking travel destinations off their bucket list.
Sherry Taylor is a life-long resident of western Franklin County, and an alum of Mohawk Trail Regional School, as are her husband and three grown children. Their family believes in the value of public education as evidenced by furthering their education at community college and public universities. Until her recent retirement, Sherry co-owned Blackmer Insurance Agency, where she was able to use her skills in bookkeeping, customer service, organizing and problem solving. Sherry and her husband live in Shelburne and are involved in the community in many ways. Sherry previously served on the Buckland Shelburne PTO and Local Education Council, as a Girl Scout leader, and in the Mohawk Music Association. In the community, she has been a Trustee for the Shelburne Free Public Library, serves on the Carl Nilman Scholarship Fund, and has volunteered in various capacities for Shelburne Grange, the First Congregational Church of Shelburne, and the Shelburne Falls Area Women’s Club. While new to the Board, Sherry has always enjoyed helping the MLF Spelling Bee, Giving Tree, and food delivery program, and now looks forward to her new role.
Meet our
Team
Kristen Tillona-Baker, Executive Director
joined the Mary Lyon Foundation as the Executive Director in January of 2021. Prior to joining the Foundation, she served as Head of School at the Knox School in Long Island for seven years. During her tenure at the school, Kristen initiated a national prep basketball program, a national equestrian program, expanded the school’s rowing program, and founded Summer Adventures which turned into a premier summer camp and million-dollar business. Additionally, she developed a curriculum that resulted in 35 graduates earning over $6 million in college scholarships and increased enrollment during the 2019-2020 academic year to become the highest and most diverse in 20 years. Kristen graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she studied Animal Science, and previously spent 11 years teaching math and science at independent day and boarding schools. She has three sons, a stepdaughter, and son-in-law, and lives in South Deerfield with her husband Ron and their two labrador retrievers.
Sarah Burrell, Development Associate,
joined the Mary Lyon Foundation as a Development Associate in November 2024. Originally from Oregon, she moved to Western Massachusetts in 2019, bringing a BA in Public Relations from Gonzaga University. Sarah offers the Mary Lyon Foundation a blend of creative storytelling and strategic communications. Over the last six years, she's held roles at the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, where she helped elevate local businesses and build connections, and at Annie Selke, a high-end home decor brand, where she did PR and cultivated relationships with designers, editors, and industry tastemakers. Sarah managed many collaborations, giveaways, and influencer marketing campaigns and handled the company's digital and print features. She has also built her marketing clientele working for creative women in business, a pursuit that has always brought her great joy.
Sarah's commitment to the Foundation runs deep as a single parent with a child at BSE. She is passionate and driven to ensure local families, children, and educators have the resources to succeed. This personal connection infuses her development work with an authentic layer of care and dedication, transforming professional responsibility into a heartfelt mission of community support.
Beyond her professional pursuits, her free time is filled with home projects, vintage treasure hunting, hiking, arts and crafts with her daughter, and hanging with her newly adopted schnauzer, Frankie.
Dee Dee Pielock, Executive Assistant
has worked in schools most of her employed life. She loves helping children and people of all ages and is very happy to have found her home at the Mary Lyon Foundation, which encompasses everything she is passionate about. Dee Dee is very familiar with the area which Mary Lyon serves as her father is from Colrain, where she grew up traipsing the woods and fields with him and her many cousins. You will usually find her behind her sewing machine, quilting, or crafting a new project when she is not at the beach or camping. She has two wonderful children who live in the area, and she and her husband, Steve, visit often.
Cynthia Caporaso, Business Manager
joined the Mary Lyon Foundation staff in November of 2023 after a work life dedicated to children and education. She has an MEd in Administration and Supervision from Antioch New England Graduate School and is certified by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as a School Business Manager. Most of her work was in Early Childhood Education, although she began her work as an elementary school Music Teacher. Later, moving into administration, she served as Executive Director of the Girls Club of Greenfield, interim principal at Shutesbury Elementary School, and Assistant to the Superintendent of Erving School Union #28 until 2000. For the Springfield Public Schools, she served as coordinator for a consortium of early childhood practitioners, including the public schools, private centers, Head Start programs, and Family Child Care providers. Since her retirement, she has served as the District Treasurer for the Gill-Montague Regional Schools and as a payroll clerk for the town of Sunderland.
Janis Oliker, Program Coordinator
joined the Mary Lyon Foundation in November of 2022. She moved to Franklin County from Boston in 2011 to be closer to nature and her community after her two children completed college. She spent many years working as a school nurse in the Mohawk District, and currently provides home care for elderly clients in the community who need additional support. She loves to talk about food, farm life, and meditation, and enjoys being part of a small, engaged community. Janis is passionate about providing access to resources that help people live happy, healthy, connected lives, and is excited to be the newest member of the Mary Lyon team.