Board of Trustees

The EARLY STEPS Board of Trustees is comprised of twenty-eight highly committed members. The Board includes administrators and parents from the various independent schools that are members of EARLY STEPS, as well as many others who are committed to diversity.

“If education is the key to a better life, a better society and a better world... then EARLY STEPS plays a most important role, not only for children of color but also for independent schools in New York City. Just as we have accomplished a great deal, we also know there is much work yet to be done.”

David Trower, President, EARLY STEPS Board of Trustees,
Head of School, The Allen-Stevenson School

EARLY STEPS Board of Trustees
President, David R. Trower, Head of School, The Allen-Stevenson School
Executive Director, Jacqueline Y. Pelzer

Alan Berk Vice President, Leonard Rosen & Co.
Cynthia Bing Trustee, Trevor Day School, Andover School & Parents League of New York
Bertram Gibson Senior Associate, Kiwi Partners, Inc.
Betsy Hall Coordinator of Placement, Bank Street
June Hilton Director of Admissions, the Trinity School
Dorothy Hutcheson Head of School, the Nightingale-Bamford School
Valorie Iason Director of Admissions, Packer Collegiate Institute
Patricia Redd Johnson Senior Associate Dean of Admission, the Hotchkiss School
Stuart Johnson Head of School, St. Bernard’s School
Cheryl Kelly Head of Early Childhood, Grace Church School
Eve Kleger Director, Village Community School
Sarah Lafferty Director of Admissions, Riverdale Country School
Sheila Lambert Trustee, Rodeph Sholom School; Chairman - Bottomless Closet, NYC
Jean G. Lamont Independent Consultant; Former Head of School, The Foote School
Carol Sutton Lewis Vice Chair, Studio Museum in Harlem; Trustee, Educational Broadcasting Corporation
Cynthia Vail Lowe Human Services Administrator, New York City Department of Social Services
Andrew McLaren Managing Director, Horizons National
Jane B. O’Connell President, Altman Foundation
Verne Oliver Associate Director, Gilder Foundation
Sandra Owens Director of Development, United Negro College Fund
Michele Owens-Patterson Senior Psychologist, Prep for Prep
Alexandra L. Peters President, New Space for Women (Health Center)
Barbara Root Director of Admissions, Convent of the Sacred Heart
Lydia Spinelli Director, Brick Church School
Caroline M. Tripp Independent Consultant
Linden Havemeyer Wise Special Counsel, The Metropolitan Museum of Art;
Trustee, The Chapin School