BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Tapestry Charter School is governed by a Board of Trustees, with oversight from the New York State Education Department and the State University of New York.

To contact the entire TCS Board of Trustees, feel free to email them at: [email protected].  To view Tapestry’s formal Complaint & Inquiry Process, click here.

Meeting Schedule > ;

For the 2024-2025 school year, all Board Meetings will take place either in HS Room 310 (65 Great Arrow) or the LS Library (111 Great Arrow). Please confirm the meeting location in advance.

Previous Meeting Minutes >

Below you will find a brief summary of board meeting, along with links to the full minutes for your reference. These documents provide important details on discussions, decisions, and assigned action items. Please review them to stay informed and up-to-date on all board activities.

TCS Board Meetings: Friday, September 20, 2024

Alfred J. Wright

Chair

Alfred (A.J.) Wright joined the Tapestry Charter School Board in July 2017. He is the Director of Government Affairs at Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York, where he oversees the health plan’s government affairs program. In this role, A.J. advises senior leadership on legislation, policy, and political strategy while educating government officials about the health plan’s value to its members, employers, and communities.

Prior to joining Highmark in 2014, A.J. served as Senior Director of Government Relations at the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. His earlier experience includes serving as Director of District Operations for NYS Assembly Member Jack Quinn III and as Field Representative for Congressman Jack Quinn, Jr.

A.J. earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from St. Lawrence University and participated in the American University Washington Semester. In addition to his professional work, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, coaches youth baseball at Central Amherst Little League, and is a team captain for Ride for Roswell.

 

Luanne Firestone

Vice-Chair 

Luanne Firestone has served on the Tapestry Charter School Board since Spring 2017. She is the Executive Director of Family Promise of Western New York, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting homeless families in the community.

Luanne holds a Master of Arts in Theology from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA, and a Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University. Through her leadership and advocacy, she brings a deep commitment to service and education to the Tapestry Board.

 

Dr. Hilary Lochte

Trustee

Dr. Hilary Lochte joined the Tapestry Charter School Board in September 2020. She is an Assistant Professor at Buffalo State College, teaching in the English Education and Elementary Education departments. Dr. Lochte holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, a Master’s in Education, and a Doctorate in Sociological Foundations of Education, all from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Her research and teaching focus on supporting youth in urban communities and helping new and practicing teachers use multicultural children’s literature to promote meaningful literacy. Dr. Lochte teaches courses in Children’s Literature, Young Adult Literature, and Language Teaching Methods, while also supervising student teachers.

In addition to her faculty role, Dr. Lochte serves as the Director of the Buffalo Urban Teacher Graduate Residency Program at Buffalo State. This New York State-funded diversity initiative helps Teaching Assistants and Teacher Aides from Buffalo Public Schools earn MS Ed degrees and teacher certification.

Dr. Lochte’s work centers on teacher education, diversity, and equity in schools and literature. Her co-edited book, Teacher Performance Assessment and Accountability Reforms: The Impacts of edTPA on Teaching and Schools (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017), earned the Critics’ Choice Award from the American Educational Studies Association.

A proud Buffalo native and resident of the West Side, Dr. Lochte brings her passion for education, equity, and community to the Tapestry Board.

 

Daniel Robertson

Trustee

Daniel Robertson, a Buffalo native, currently serves as the Program Manager of the Boys and Men of Color Initiative with Say Yes Buffalo. Known affectionately as “Mr. Daniel” or “Mr. D” by students and parents, Daniel has dedicated his career to mentoring youth and ensuring they have access to the same opportunities that helped him succeed as a student.

A proud graduate of Buffalo Public Schools and Turner Carroll High School, Daniel earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University at Buffalo and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Medaille College.

Daniel’s efforts in youth services and community involvement have earned him numerous honors, including recognition as a 30 Under Thirty Honoree by Buffalo Business First. He has also been recognized by the CAO Education Task Force, Mayor Byron W. Brown, The Buffalo Urban League of Young Professionals, and Grassroots for his impactful contributions to the community.

Now leading what he calls “the most challenging and important work of his life,” Daniel is committed to improving life outcomes for boys and young men of color. His dedication to education, mentorship, and community support is evident in all that he does. Daniel is also a proud father to his daughter, balancing his professional achievements with his personal commitment to family.

 

Taylor Hunter

Trustee

 

Taylor Hunter is a results-driven leader with a passion for community engagement and advocacy. A proud Tapestry Charter School alum, Taylor excelled as Class President, a member of the National Honor Society, and part of the 4×100 relay team that boosted the school’s athletic reputation.

Taylor earned a Sport Management degree from SUNY Cortland, becoming a two-time All-American and breaking school records in the 200 meters and 4×100 meters. She also made history as Cortland’s first Black Student Government President and partnered with the NAACP and Black Student Union to create impactful events promoting dialogue and diversity.

Taylor gained industry experience as a PGA WORKS Fellow with the Western New York PGA Section, organizing events, assisting with Pro-Ams, Junior Tours, and PGA HOPE, and contributing to PGA Magazine.

Now, as an Account Executive at United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, Taylor applies her expertise in leadership and event management to make a lasting impact in her community.

Betsy Behrend

Trustee

Betsy Behrend brings more than 20 years of experience in leading collaborations, advocacy, communications, and constituent engagement programs across foundations, corporations, nonprofits, academia, and government agencies. Her work focuses on public education, collective impact, equity, and systems change.

For the past 12 years, Betsy has been with Say Yes Buffalo, where she works to remove barriers to educational attainment, workforce participation, and economic mobility for students in Buffalo’s public and charter schools. She currently manages the Say Yes scholarship program, which awards over $3 million annually to support Buffalo students attending college.

Before returning to her hometown of Buffalo, Betsy lived and worked in Syracuse, New York City, Washington, DC, and Portland, OR. She began her career in public relations and advertising and later became Say Yes Buffalo’s first communications director before transitioning to program management.

Betsy lives in Buffalo with her family, continuing her commitment to education, equity, and community impact.

 

Patrick Lewis

Trustee

Patrick Lewis has been a dedicated member of the Tapestry Charter School Board since 2015. He is an advertising professional at Mower, where he specializes in paid media and marketing strategy.

Before joining Mower, Patrick lived in New York City, working in advertising sales and marketing for Animal Planet and The Travel Channel.

Patrick earned a B.A. from Gettysburg College and now resides in the Allentown neighborhood of Buffalo with his wife, Ashley, and their two children, Henry and Sally. His professional experience and commitment to education and community bring valuable insight to the Tapestry Board.

 

Samantha (Sam) Gaerte

Trustee

Samantha (Sam) Gaerte joined the Tapestry Charter School Board in May 2024. She serves as the Director of Business Planning at Evergreen Health, where she focuses on project management and health center program compliance. Since joining Evergreen in 2013, Sam has held various roles, contributing to the organization’s mission of providing high-quality, accessible healthcare to the Western New York community.

Sam holds a BA in English Literature and History and an MA in Public History. Originally from Washington State, she comes from a family of educators and is passionate about education and community involvement. A proud Tapestry parent and active member of the Tapestry Community Association, Sam brings a unique blend of healthcare expertise and educational commitment to the board.

 

Jeremy Hazelton

Trustee

Jeremy Hazelton joined the Tapestry Charter School Board in December 2020. He serves as the Executive Director of 716 Ministries, an entrepreneurial nonprofit in Buffalo, NY, dedicated to workforce and community development.

Jeremy resides on the West Side of Buffalo with his wife, Audra, and their three children. His leadership and commitment to community impact bring valuable insight and expertise to the Tapestry Board.

 

Daniel Pyne

Treasuer

Daniel Pyne serves as a Finance Manager at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he focuses on financial reporting and treasury management. His career spans various industries, including banking, food service/hospitality, insurance, and public accounting, where he has held key roles in accounting and financial reporting.

Daniel earned both a BSBA in Accounting and an MBA from John Carroll University. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed in the State of New York.

Daniel lives in the Elmwood Village neighborhood of Buffalo with his wife, Chrissy, and their two children, Haddie and Florence. His financial expertise and diverse industry experience add valuable insight to the Tapestry Charter School Board.

 

Tanya Schneerer, SPHR

Trustee

 

Bio Coming Soon!