Carrie Brown – Executive Director
Carrie is a lifelong resident of Westborough raising her family here with her husband. Charlotte and Carrie, throughout their many years of friendship, bonded over shared experiences of Westborough’s places and people. Carrie is a natural connector, always looking to bring people closer together. She has always had a passion for building relationships and taking the time to understand who people are at their core. Charlotte saw this quality in Carrie and approached her about being a liaison between the mentors and the scholars.
Carrie has embraced this role with the goal of carrying out Charlotte’s legacy. Carrie, a true believer in mentorship as a powerful tool for these students, has witnessed firsthand, monumental transformations. She has seen first year students lacking confidence grow into independent and driven self-starters fully equipped to take on future challenges. She is a committed member of this team and hopes to continue this important work for years to come.
Bill Linnane – President
Bill Linnane’s involvement with the Spinney Scholars Program began in 2010. Over the past 14 years, he has served as a Community Mentor for three students, and his impact has extended far beyond the typical five-year mentorship period. These relationships have blossomed into enduring friendships, with some continuing for an additional ten years. His commitment to these individuals is deeply personal, as evidenced by his attendance at their significant life events, including graduations and weddings.
Bill initially joined the program as a member in 2010 and has demonstrated strong leadership, serving as chairman for over eight years. His dedication to mentorship was inspired in part by his profound friendship with Charlotte Spinney, a teacher who began her career in 1958 when Bill was a senior at WHS. Their unique connection, which started in 2005 and continued until her passing in 2019, was rooted in their shared passion for Westborough and their unwavering belief that children can achieve great things when provided with nurturing support from caring adults.
Bob Hoover – Treasurer
After a long career in finance with three major manufacturers, Bob redirected his expertise to the nonprofit sector, where he saw an opportunity to make a difference. He has since served as a volunteer and treasurer for several local organizations.
His interest in helping students was sparked by his friend, Bill Linnane, who introduced him to the work of the Charlotte Spinney Scholars program. Bob was captivated by its unique approach of combining financial aid with personalized mentoring from teachers and community members. Eager to help, he became the treasurer shortly after the organization became a nonprofit in 2018. He has since witnessed firsthand the profound impact the program has had not only on the students but also on the mentors who help them.
Lisa Greenwald – Secretary
Lisa Greenwald is a dedicated retired Westborough science teacher who taught at Gibbons Middle School. She’s deeply passionate about education and helping students succeed. For many years, she had the privilege of working alongside Charlotte before joining the board for the Charlotte Spinney Vision Scholarship. She’s been a committed member of this scholarship program for over two decades, helping to provide crucial support to scholars.
Directors
Flora Bellofatto
A resident of Westborough, Flora brings her experience practicing law in New York and Massachusetts and her current position as a regulatory compliance analyst to the Spinney Scholars Board. Motivated by her child with special needs, she has been an advocate for individuals with disabilities in the Westborough schools and broader community. She served as President of the Westborough Special Education Parent Advisory Council and continues to volunteer for organizations that promote social and community connections for individuals of all abilities. Since 2022, Flora has been inspired by the Spinney Scholar’s mission that reflects Westborough’s commitment to inclusivity, opportunity, and acceptance. She is honored to be part of an organization that upholds these values and engages dedicated community mentors to empower students to forge their own path to success.
Erica Tworog-Dube
A former pediatric genetic counselor, Erica Tworog-Dube stepped away from the workforce to focus on raising her daughter and has enjoyed the opportunities for community service that this career shift has afforded to her. She has volunteered extensively within the school system in a wide variety of roles and has also had the privilege of serving as a Girl Scout troop leader and as the coach of a 4-H FIRST Lego Robotics Team. Her favorite community service initiative was her role as the Chair of Westborough’s Bay State Commons Playground Committee, for which she led fundraising efforts, municipal collaboration, and community outreach that resulted in the installation of a popular downtown playground.
With a professional career that focused on empathy and advocacy for families from a wide variety of backgrounds, as well as a personal passion for supporting the youth of Westborough, Erica is thrilled to serve the Charlotte Spinney Scholars program.
Jack Foley
Jack Foley is in his 16th year as the Principal of Gibbons Middle School and has worked with the Spinney Scholar program since 2010. The work of the Spinney Scholars program dovetails with Jack’s educational philosophy of supporting all students. Jack has worked in public education for the past 34 years, and is in his 25th year working in the Westborough Public Schools. Prior to Gibbons Middle School, Jack was an Assistant Principal at Westborough High School for 7 years and taught English at both Westborough High School as well as Burncoat High School and South High Schools in Worcester.
Jack had the privilege of working with and getting to know Charlotte and has been very grateful for the work, caring and efforts of the Spinney Scholars team.
Karen Henderson
A Westborough resident for over 30 years, Karen Henderson is deeply committed to her community, a passion that has defined her professional and volunteer work. As the General Manager of Westborough TV, she has a direct hand in keeping the community connected, a dedication complemented by her extensive history of community service. Her passion for education is a cornerstone of her volunteer service. Karen served for seven years on the Westborough School Committee and dedicated five years to the Board of Trustees for Project Graduation, helping to create a safe, celebratory milestone for graduating seniors.
It is the combination of business acumen, educational expertise, and deep community involvement that Karen brings to her work with the Spinney Scholars Program.
Alex Pilger
As the Westborough High School Counseling Department Chair, Alex Pilger is passionate about supporting teens through the important transitionary years of high school. Alex believes deeply in the power of mentorship, which drew him to the Spinney Scholars Program soon after he joined the WHS team in 2023. While Alex never had the chance to meet Charlotte Spinney, everything he has heard and learned about her efforts and contributions to the community reinforce the belief that they would have shared many educational beliefs and values. He feels strongly about furthering those ideals for the next generation of Westborough students.
Maureen McCann
A Westborough resident, Maureen McCann brings over twenty years of combined business and educational experience to the Charlotte Spinney Scholars Program. Currently the Assistant Principal at Gibbons Middle School, Maureen began her career as an English teacher as well as coaching cross-country and track. Before entering the classroom, she spent almost a decade in the retail industry as a trainer and district manager, developing strong leadership and organizational skills that continue to inform her work today.
She believes deeply in helping students recognize their own strengths, build confidence, and reach their fullest potential. Her career reflects a steadfast commitment to nurturing young people as learners and as individuals. With her unique blend of business acumen and educational expertise, Maureen is proud to support the Spinney Scholars Program and its mission of expanding opportunities for Westborough’s students.