Deanne Benson has led Lesley Ellis School’s transformation from a Preschool-Grade 3 program to a Preschool-Grade 8 school. She came to Lesley Ellis School in 2001 following 15 years at Nashoba Brooks School in Concord, Massachusetts, where she was began as a physical education teacher and shifted to director of admissions. A physical education teacher for more than 17 years, Deanne has worked at several different elementary schools throughout her career. She earned her B.A. from North Park College in Chicago and an M.Ed. in educational administration from Lesley University. She holds Massachusetts state certification as both a teacher and an administrator. Outside of Lesley Ellis, Deanne does her best to stay healthy by participating each summer in a triathlon. She also keeps a close eye on her daughter’s nationally competitive synchronized skating team.
Leadership
Paul Stein
Executive Director
Dr. Paul Stein joined Schools for Children in July 2017. His career includes varied roles in teaching and educational administration. He served as the superintendent of Wayland (Mass.) Public Schools and as the deputy superintendent of Newton Public Schools. He is the past principal of Day Middle School in Newton and past house administrator of Pollard Middle School in Needham. He began his career as a math teacher in alternative, special education school settings and served for several years as the director of Full Circle High School in Somerville.
Dr. Stein earned his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, an M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a second master’s in special education from Lesley University, and a doctorate in educational administration from Boston University.
Rebecca Altepeter
Head of School, Dearborn Academy
After her first visit to Dearborn Academy in the mid-1990s, Rebecca Altepeter left and told her friends and family, “Someday I will work there. They are doing incredible work and it feels like family.” Rebecca finally realized her dream when she became the director in 2016 after building her leadership skills as the principal at a therapeutic residential and day school for adolescent girls and as a coordinator in the Office of Student Services for Cambridge Public Schools. Rebecca earned her B.S. with a dual major in Slavic and environmental studies from Indiana University and her M.S. in Moderate Special Needs from Wheelock College. She holds certifications as a Special Education Administrator, Moderate Special Needs teacher, and General Educator.
Bev Beno
Chief Financial Officer
Bev Beno joined Schools for Children in 2018. As Chief Financial Officer, she manages the accounting, finance, audit, financial reporting, human resources, investment and budgeting functions for the nonprofit. She is responsible also for fiscal analysis, financial services development, and the physical plant and facilities of our five Boston-area schools and programs as well as our headquarters in Winchester, Mass. Bev brings a strong knowledge of special education programming and over 20 years of experience working in the business offices of educational nonprofits and collaboratives. She is a graduate of Duke University and is licensed in Massachusetts as a school business administrator.
Deanne Benson
Head of School, Lesley Ellis School
Scott McGinn
Program Director, STEP Program
Ashley Quan
Director, Winn Brook Extended Learning
Alex Tsonas
Director, Seaport Academy
Alex Tsonas joined Seaport Academy as a school counselor in 1998. Two years later he became Seaport’s director. Alex’s experience includes working as an assistant director in a residential program, a therapist for a home-based individual and family treatment agency, and a counselor running substance abuse and anger management groups serving youths in Lynn, Massachusetts. Alex has managed Seaport Academy’s evolution from a small, 12-student program to a successful all-boys, state-approved alternative high school serving 28+ students in Grades 8-12. An avid hiker and runner, Alex earned his LICSW licensing in 2016. He has a B.A. from Colgate University and an M.A. from Salem State College.