Board of Trustees
Collaborative Learning Project, Inc. d/b/a Tremont School
Tremont School is the business name for the Collaborative Learning Project, Inc. (CLP). CLP/Tremont School is governed by a board of dedicated volunteers who believe passionately about Tremont School’s mission and helping all students thrive!
Contact Us
You may contact the Board of Trustees at any time by emailing the Board Officers at boardoftrustees@tremontschool.org.
Board Officers
Timothy B. Lee, Ed.M.
Chair
Linda Echt, Ed.M.
Vice Chair
Linda Echt is principal owner of: LINDA ECHT CONSULTING, LLC. She consults with independent schools and other non-profit organizations. She was a long time Head at Atrium School and the founder of their middle school program. Prior to that she was the founder of Kesher (an innovative approach to Jewish education) in Cambridge and helped to replicate the program on the east coast, in New York and in Newton. Linda holds a Masters in Education (Administration) from Lesley University and went to Michigan State University and graduated with a triad major in History of Art, Philosophy and Religious Studies.
While Tremont was completing its Head of School search Linda served as Interim Head. She deeply believes in the model of Tremont School and describes it as a needed school in the independent school landscape and is so happy to be supporting the school by serving on the Board of Directors. She comes to us with a great passion for teaching and learning and a wealth of knowledge about independent school governance. She is a huge Tremont cheerleader, looking forward to being a part of the schools’ continued growth. Linda lives in Watertown with her wife Jill and kids, Noah (Tremont PG ’20) and Eva.
Jeff Poggi
Treasurer
Jeff has been part of the Tremont community since 2017 and is the proud father of a 2022 Tremont Graduate. Over his 30-year professional career, he has held numerous leadership roles at McIntosh Group, Harman International, and Bose Corporation. He earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a M.S. in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech, and a M.B.A from Duke University. Jeff is an avid reader, lifetime learner, proud nerd, golf hacker, and passionate music fan. Jeff lives with his wife and best friend, Blake, and their children in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, where he regularly spins Springsteen on vinyl.
Lauren LaGrega, M.D.
Clerk
Lauren is a proud parent of a Tremont School alum and has been a part of our community for almost 10 years. She served as Tremont School Gala Co-chair in 2018 and as an officer of the Tremont Parent Association for three years. Lauren was the co-chair of Tremont School Committee to Re-Open during the summer of 2020, and currently serves as Tremont’s Health Consultant and chair of the COVID Taskforce.
Lauren is a pediatrician currently working in Cambridge, MA. She has a clinical interest in working with neurodiverse and gender-diverse patients. Lauren is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University with a BA in Public Health and graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine, MD. She was a recipient of a National Health Service Corp Scholarship and worked for over two years in a medically underserved community in the South Bronx after completion of her pediatric residency at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Medical Center.
Julie Purrington, JD
Recording Secretary
Julie is the proud parent of two Tremont alumni and has served the Tremont community in many roles including TPAC Chair, TPAC Advisor, and various Board leadership positions. Julie received her law degree from The Washington College of Law at American University, and her undergraduate degree from Harvard College. In her legal practice she advised health care organizations in corporate and regulatory matters with law firms in DC and RI. Julie provided business development support to a consulting firm contracting with the federal government, before spending the past 15 years in the non-profit education sector. When not volunteering for Tremont, she will most likely be found gardening or on the RI beaches. Julie lives in Needham with husband Dave, Mara (Tremont Class of 2022) and Alec (Tremont MS Alum) and dog Holly.
Board Trustees (3 Year Term)
Susan Diller
Susan has over twenty years of independent school administration and leadership. She aspires to generate respectful, collegial, growth-oriented learning communities. She has served as Head of School at Touchstone Community School, and prior to Touchstone, she had the formative leadership experience of being co-director at the Atrium School. Susan has taught and worked at many types of schools – traditional, all-girls, Jewish, Quaker, and progressive. No matter the type of school pedagogy, Susan believes that education is the key to a sustainable, democratic future. In Susan’s spare time she enjoys acting and storytelling.
Darren Herman
Darren is a Managing Director at Bain Capital in Boston and Chairman of Silicon Alley Sports, an organization that comes together to play sports and network to raise money for various charities. He has had a career as an entrepreneur, investor, and executive focused on growth: marketing, digital, technology, and strategy. Darren has been featured in numerous global media, such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and various national publications highlighting some of the innovations he has accomplished and the awards he’s won. Darren lives in Wellesley with his wife, two teenage children, and three dogs. When not working, TikTok-ing with his daughter or losing in video games to his son, he can be found on the tennis court, at a New York Knicks game, or skiing with his family. Herman is an active member of the Pinebrook Country Club Tennis Committee.
Patty James, M.B.A
Patty volunteered in a parent-directed Son-Rise play-therapy program with a young boy with autism from 2006-2008. She is the parent of two daughters who attended the Waldorf School in Lexington from kindergarten through 8th grade. While her children attended The Waldorf School Patty was involved in all aspects of school activities, including studying the Waldorf philosophy of education and how the curriculum supported children’s developmental stages socially and emotionally. She also volunteered part-time in the business office. In 1982, Patty received an MBA from Simmons Graduate School of Management, and held positions of Paralegal in a large Boston law firm and Executive Assistant to the President of a small consulting firm in the Boston area.
Will Wilcoxson
Will is a Senior Advisor to Osage Advisors, a boutique sell-side investment bank that works with family-owned and closely-held businesses and also consults through his own company, Hoylake Advisors. He specializes in working with behavioral health and technology-enabled business services companies. His son Britt is a high school student at Tremont and has aspirations to someday have his own textile company.
Will earned a BA in Economics with honors from St. Lawrence University and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He is also a graduate of General Electric’s Financial Management Program. Will lives in Concord with wife Kirstin and kids Britt and Emma. During their free time, the Wilcoxsons enjoy gardening, hiking and cooking. They have two dogs, “Jilly” a White West Highland Terrier, and Maisie, their goofy golden retriever. Maisie occasionally joins in on Will’s Zoom calls but still needs help turning on the sound and camera.
Board Trustees (2 Year Term)
Jennifer Richards Little (TPAC Trustee)
Jen has been a parent at Tremont School for seven years, and her son is now a senior. She has served the Tremont community as the TPAC Chair, TPAC Advisor, and now has returned to her role of TPAC advisor for her son’s senior year. She created and executed the Tremont School Maker’s Festival in 2018, served on several Tremont School gala planning committees, and helped create community and connection among Tremont parents. Jen is a physical therapist with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from University of California, Santa Cruz, and her Masters in Physical Therapy from University of Southern California. With over 25 years of experience, she specializes in trauma recovery and somato-emotional release in relation to physical injury and chronic pain syndromes, and is the owner of Jennifer Richards Little, MPT CST LLC, her in-person physical therapy practice. When she’s not working or volunteering, Jen spends time with her husband, two kids, and two cats, and stays active with hot Pilates, yoga, swimming, and hiking.
Will Barker (TPAC Trustee)
Will Barker is the parent of a Tremont high schooler and appreciates Tremont’s success in generating his son’s enthusiasm for learning. Professionally, Will has focused his career in order management software for retailers, leading cross-functional teams of engineers to design, implement, improve, or fix solutions. His education background includes an MBA and MS in Finance from Northeastern University. Will has extensive experience volunteering in non-profit organizations, such as Kimball Union Academy (trustee/alumni council), Newton-Wellesley/MGH Brigham hospital network as a member of various committees and the Board of Overseers/Advisors, Minuteman and Acton-Boxborough school districts as PAC and SEPAC officers, and as a director of a family foundation.