Interim Executive Director - Joan Foster

Joan has rich training, background and experience in special education at the educational/therapeutic level, teaching and administration of special education service. At Learning Prep, Joan has held a variety of positions serving as the School Psychologist, Supervisor of departments including Reading, Computers and Occupational Therapy as well as chairing Team Meetings for Elementary school students. Joan has been at Learning Prep school since its inception 41 year ago, and is dedicated to the school's mission of providing quality services to special education students and families.

Joan holds an undergraduate degree from Boston College in Psychology and Education and a Master?s in Education from Northeastern University. In addition to her work at Learning Prep, Joan has also taught a Graduate Program in Special Education at Regis College for 10 years.

On July 18, 2011, Joan assumed the position of interim Executive Director.

Donald Freedman, Board Chair

A practicing attorney of 38 years, Don is a founding partner of Rosenberg, Freedman & Goldstein LLP, of Newton, where he concentrates on protecting the interests of children and adults with special needs. A past Board Chair of the Massachusetts Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, Don currently serves on the Executive Advisory Council of The Arc of Massachusetts and on the Board of Advocates of Jewish Family & Children's Services. Among other positions, he has served on the Governor's Commission on Mental Retardation, the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council and the Board of Directors of Jewish Vocational Services, where he chaired the Disability Services Committee.

Charlie Breslin, Co-chair, Finance Committee

As Chief Financial Officer for the Dana Hall School, Charlie has overseen the finances of the School for the past six years. During his tenure the school has been able to refinance their debt, make necessary adjustments to their expense structure, navigate the financial changes to achieve a healthier balance sheet, and ensure a stronger future for the school. Prior to Dana Hall, he spent five years at the Public Health Commission in Boston as the Director of Finance, overseeing an operating budget of $135 Million. Charlie brings over 21 years of experience in financial management with the last eleven as the key financial person. Charlie has a B.S. and MBA in Management from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. He is a parent of a current LPS student.

Mark Farrell

Mark is an engineering & technology leader with two decades of global experience. After serving in the SA Navy Mark received his NH in Civil Eng. in 1991 and his NHD in Water & Waste Water Civil Eng. in 1992 from the Port Elizabeth Technikon. Mark started his career as a Civil Engineer in South Africa. Mark moved to Canada & joined Hydroxyl a high tech engineering company in BC as Engineering & Operations Manager. In 2000 Mark joined KMS and moved to Boston. As the Vice President Systems Engineering at KMS, Mark is responsible for the design, engineering & execution of tens of millions of dollars of annual global systems business. Since 2007 Mark has also serves as Managing Director on the board for Puron® GmbH. Mark is a Boy Scouts of America Den Leader and he and his wife run a Challenger baseball program in the summer for children with special needs. Mark is a parent of a current LPS student.

Dr. Jeffrey Pickar, Co-chair, Education Committee

Jeff is a clinical and neuropsychologist who specializes in assessment of learning, developmental and psychiatric difficulties in children and adolescents. In addition, he provides psychotherapeutic services to children, adolescents, adults and families. He has a private practice in Belmont and is on faculty in the Department of Psychiatry of Harvard Medical School. Jeff was formerly the Coordinator of Child Outpatient Psychological Services at McLean Hospital and the Co-Director of the Learning Evaluation Clinic at McLean Hospital and continues to function as a Senior Neuropsychology Consultant to the Learning Evaluation Clinic. Jeff received his B.A. from Swarthmore College and his M.A. and Ph.D. from University of Michigan.

Jean Raymond

Jean has spent 25 years at Fidelity Investments in a variety of finance roles. She currently serves as EVP/CFO of Fidelity's Personal and Workplace Investing business. She is actively involved with Children's Hospital of Boston as a member of the Board of Overseers and is also a member of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute's Executive Council Steering Committee. Jean received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Stonehill College and a Master of Science degree in Finance from Boston College. She is a parent of a current LPS student.

Dr. Marion Sanders, Co-chair, Education Committee

Marion is a clinical child psychologist, recently retired. She began her working life as a special class teacher in the Newton schools, and went on to earn her doctorate in psychology at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her clinical work was heavily focused on evaluating children with learning problems. In addition she taught in psychology and special education departments at Wheelock, Boston University and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem: and worked 18 years at Judge Baker Guidance Center. She is the author of two books: Clinical Assessment of Learning Problems and Understanding Dyslexia and the Reading Process.

Mark Williams, Co-chair, Finance Committee

Mark is a risk management practitioner and academic with two decades of experience. Since 2002, he has been on the Finance & Economics Faculty at Boston University and currently holds the academic rank of Executive-in-Residence/Master Lecturer. Prior to teaching, he worked as a senior trading floor executive, a bank trust officer and as a bank examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank. He has also been a guest columnist for Forbes.com, Reuters.com and the Boston Globe. In 2010 he published Uncontrolled Risk (McGraw Hill), a book examining the root causes of the financial crisis and the rise and fall of investment banking giant Lehman Brothers. Additionally, Mark is a parent of a current LPS student.

Jane Wolfson, Secretary, & Chair, Fundraising Committee

As Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the New England Aquarium, Jane has led an extensive re-positioning effort in print, broadcast and on the web highlighting the Aquarium’s role as a force for ocean conservation and environmental change. Before coming to the Aquarium, she spent nine years at Putnam Investments as a Senior Vice President, overseeing communications efforts for the retirement and International businesses. She spent a significant portion of her career in advertising. Jane also served as Development Director for the Federation for Children with Special Needs and is a parent of a current LPS student. She has a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and an Ed.M. from Harvard University.