FY25 A.I. Mentorship 101

Dan is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and later received his Master’s Degree from Worcester State College (now Worcester State University).  He worked for two educational collaboratives – the Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative and the EDCO Collaborative (Education Collaborative for Greater Boston) for 23 years as a program supervisor and contract manager. In those roles, he gained invaluable knowledge with special education that has served him well as a school business official.

Dan began working as a school business official in the Auburn Public Schools where he worked for 8 years. He moved on to the Leominster Public Schools in 2013. While in Leominster, Dan was elected to the MASBO Board of Directors (completing his term in May of 2018). He, along with several of his colleagues, co-authored the Grants Manual for the management of all Federal Grants during the summer of 2015. Dan also served as chair (and later co-chair) of the USBAR Roundtable – Urban School Business Administrators Round Table during his tenure in Leominster. This roundtable discussed and evaluated the many challenges of school finance work in the urban. In his USBAR role, Dan developed a strong relationship with the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center. Dan also served on the School Building Committee for the renovation of Leominster High School and participated in several Accelerated Building Projects sponsored by the MSBA (Massachusetts Building Authority).

While in Leominster, Dan was contacted by the then Receiver of the Southbridge Public Schools to join her team, created to begin the difficult work of turning around the district. The problems were many, a compilation of 10 plus years but time and patience was non-existent.

Dan served as the Director of Finance and Operations for the Leicester Public Schools following his time in Southbridge. He served as a member of the District’s School Building Committee and also served as Chairman of the OPM (Owner’s Project Manager) Selection Committee. Dan currently serves as the Director of Business and Finance for the Wachusett Regional School District where he has worked since August 2018.

Kara Lees as the Chief Financial Officer for the Atlantis Charter School and a Certified Public Accountant has over 20 years of municipal and school district experience. In addition to her time at Atlantis Charter School, Kara has spent many years as an external auditor as well as serving as Director of Finance for Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District and Comptroller for Bridgewater State University. She has a Masters in Accountancy and has taught the Governmental and Non-Profit Accounting course as a Visiting Lecturer for several semesters at Bridgewater State.  She is also certified as a School Business Official and Certified Public Purchasing Official in Massachusetts.  She is also serving as an elected official as Vice Chair for her hometown Finance Committee.

Rob has over 25 years of experience in the food service industry.  Rob started his career in food service management working at Keene State College dining services while earning his undergraduate degree. After college Rob worked for several colleges and universities dining programs; Regis College, Harvard University and Boston University attaining the position as Director of Dining Services for two locations. In the late 1990’ Rob transitioned into public school food service. Rob's experience includes; managing several small and large self operated districts; Bedford, Cambridge and Newton public schools as well as a stint working in contract management for the Natick public schools. In 2011 Rob obtained his license as a business manager and in 2012 started working for the Agawam Public Schools as the school business administrator where he oversees a successful self operated food service program