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  • Superintendent
Opening Letter 7/1/26

Dear Holliston Public Schools Staff, Families, and Community Members,

Today marks Day 1 of my journey as your Superintendent of Schools, and I could not be more honored and excited to officially join the Holliston community. From my very first conversations with the School Committee, staff, and residents, it became abundantly clear that Holliston is a district that fiercely values its students, supports its educators, and prides itself on a deep-rooted sense of community. Coming into a district with such a strong foundation is an incredible privilege, and I am eager to get to work alongside all of you.

As I begin this new chapter, I am thrilled to share that I am not embarking on this journey alone. We are welcoming a dynamic, brand-new central office team this summer, bringing a wealth of expertise and a renewed energy to our district's leadership. Please join me in welcoming Howie Barber, who has just been hired as our Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations, and Karen Rondon-Bourn, our new Director of Teaching and Learning. Additionally, we are absolutely delighted to welcome a familiar face back to the district; Jess Beattie is returning to Holliston to serve as the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services after one year in Hopkinton. Together with Central Office leaders Dan MacLeod and Jariel Vergne, our Principals Jaime Slaney, Brenda Maurao, Karen Manning, and David List, and a host of other educational leaders, our team is fully committed to supporting our schools, students, and families.

As we look toward the upcoming school year, my immediate priority is to listen and learn. Over the summer and into the fall, I will be launching a listening tour to meet with staff, families, students, and community leaders. I want to hear firsthand what you love about Holliston, what challenges you face, and where you see our greatest opportunities for growth. Every insight you share will help shape our path forward, ensuring that every decision we make, from our budget to our curriculum, is filtered through a single, non-negotiable question: how does this serve the best interests of our students? Our ultimate goal is to ensure every child in Holliston feels safe, valued, and challenged to reach their full potential, which we can only achieve through a transparent partnership with our exceptional staff and families.

While our school hallways may be quiet right now, the work behind the scenes is in full swing. Our new leadership team is already collaborating closely to ensure our buildings, schedules, and staff are fully prepared for a seamless and successful first day of school. I will be sending out details soon regarding formal opportunities for us to connect in person before the school year begins. In the meantime, if you see me out in the schools or around town this summer, please stop and say hello. Thank you for welcoming me so warmly into the Panther family, and I look forward to the work we will accomplish together.

With deep gratitude and excitement,

Dr. J. Kimo Carter,  Superintendent

Holliston Public Schools

 

First page of the PDF file: SandyHook
Say Something Anonymous Reporting System

See Something Say Something

November 30, 2023

 

Dear Parents, Guardians, Caregivers, and Staff:

 

The Holliston Public Schools are committed to creating and sustaining a comprehensive, coordinated effort to improve the overall safety and well-being of our students, educators, and administrators.

 

Doing this effectively requires a proactive approach with programs that equip students, parents, teachers, administrators, local law enforcement, mental health and wellness professionals, and elected officials to take meaningful action to protect our schools.

 

Our students are aware of the problems and struggles that their peers are facing on a day-to-day basis. We must empower them to know the signs of potential danger and give them the tools to help each other with the assistance of trained and caring adults. As you know, most conversations are taking place on social media, therefore it is critical that we teach our students to look out for one another in text, video, and photos and act quickly to help a fellow student.

 

Today, I am happy to announce the Holliston High School launch of the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System. Students and staff have been trained on the effective use of this reporting system. The Robert Adams Middle School will be launching this with students in early December as well. 

 

The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System, trains youth and adults how to recognize warning signs -- especially within social media -- of individuals who may be in crisis, and to tell a trusted adult directly or via the anonymous reporting system.

 

Specifically, the Say Something program educates participants to:

  • Recognize the warning signs of someone who may be at-risk of harming themselves or Other
  • Take every warning sign and threat seriously; act immediately to get help by talking to a trusted adult OR reporting it through the telephone hotline, mobile app, or website that is available 24/7/365
  • Respond to and manage the submitted tips using a tip management system overseen by a designated school team
  • Sustain the curriculum and awareness via student clubs, in-school activities, call-to-action weeks, and on-going trainings

The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System program is provided at no cost by Sandy Hook Promise (SHP), a national nonprofit organization. More than 14 million people have participated in their research-based “Know the Signs” programs that includes Say Something. They have a proven track record of working effectively with kids, parents, and teachers to improve school safety and strengthen an inclusive school culture. The program is age-appropriate and evidence-informed. To date, the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System and other SHP prevention programs have stopped multiple school shootings, suicides, and gun threats, as well as reducing other acts of violence and victimization like bullying/ cyberbullying and helping thwart cutting, drug use, and more. We know this program will do the same for our district.

 

The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System is an additional tool that we are utilizing at Holliston Public Schools to enhance our efforts to provide a safe and supportive environment for all students. Please see some additional SSARS FAQs that may provide additional information about this tool. Here is the SSARS electronic reporting form which will be housed on our website as well. 

 

Regards,

Susan E. Kustka, Ed.D.

06/26/2026 HPS Community Update
06/26/2026 HPS Community Update

June 26, 2026

 

Dear Holliston School Community,

 

I want to share some exciting information. Former Holliston School Committee Chair/ Member Stacey Raffi was awarded the Commonwealth Heroine Award for many years of service volunteering for the Holliston Public Schools and the Town of Holliston.

 

The Senate House President Karen Spilka, who also represents Holliston, nominated Stacey, and the award was presented by the MA Commission on the Status of Women.

 

About Commonwealth Heroines

 

“The Commonwealth Heroine Celebration is an opportunity to recognize the women across the state who don’t always make the news but who are truly making a difference in their communities, businesses, or volunteer endeavors. Every day, thousands of women perform acts that make our homes, neighborhoods, cities, and towns better places to live. The Commonwealth Heroine award is given to women of the Commonwealth who use their time, talent, spirit, and enthusiasm to enrich the lives of others in their communities. They are mentors, volunteers, and innovators who strive to protect and represent the interests of seniors, victims of violence, children, immigrants, and other vulnerable populations. They are the glue that keeps a community together, and we’re proud to honor them.”

 

Congratulations, Stacey Raffi. Holliston is fortunate to have you in the community!

 

Best wishes,

Dr. Susan Kustka

Retiring Superintendent

  • 2025-2026
  • Superintendent
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Asst. Superintendent for Finance and Operations Finalist Feedback Requested

Dear Holliston Community,

Thank you to everyone who participated in this evening’s Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Finalist Forum. Your engagement and thoughtful questions are invaluable to this process. We are pleased to provide the recording of the finalist Interviews for those who were unable to attend or wish to review the sessions. Additionally, we encourage all community members to submit their feedback on the two exceptional candidates—Leia DeLorenzo Secor and Howard Barber —via the dedicated survey link. Please submit your feedback by 12:00 PM on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, as your perspective is critical to the final decision.

Link to Webinar Recording of Finalist Interviews

  • Leia DeLorenzo-Secor 

  • Howard Barber

Feedback Survey 

  • Feedback is due by 12:00 PM on Wednesday, June 24, 2026

 

Finalist Bios

Leia DeLorenzo Secor

Leia DeLorenzo Secor brings more than twenty years of dedicated experience in municipal and school finance to this role. Having built her career from the ground up, she focuses on building positive, transparent relationships across districts to foster trust and clear lines of communication between school systems and local town departments.

Currently, Ms. DeLorenzo Secor serves as the Director of Finance and Operations for the Uxbridge Public Schools, where she manages a $35 million budget and oversees payroll, accounts payable, food services, transportation, and technology. Prior to her time in Uxbridge, she served as the Town and School Budget Director for the Town of Stoneham, where she successfully managed a $100 million combined operating budget, negotiated town and school union contracts, and collaborated with the MSBA on a high school building project. Her prior leadership experience also includes serving as the Director of Finance and Administrative Affairs for Melrose Public Schools and spending two decades as the Finance Manager for Weymouth Public Schools. She holds both a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Curry College, and she possesses Assistant Superintendent and School Business Administrator licensures from the Massachusetts DESE.

Howard Barber

Howard Barber is a Certified Public Accountant and licensed School Business Official with more than eighteen years of progressive K-12 finance and operations leadership spanning regional, municipal, and urban districts across Massachusetts. His professional philosophy centers on providing strong financial and operational leadership to serve as a baseline that allows educators and students to thrive.

Mr. Barber currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations for the Old Rochester Regional School District and Massachusetts Superintendency Union #55, providing executive leadership for finance, operations, human resources, procurement, facilities, and strategic planning across four separate school districts. His extensive career includes serving as the Assistant Superintendent of Finance, Operations, and Human Resources for the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District, working as the School Business Administrator for Greenfield and Auburn Public Schools, and acting as a Senior Financial Analyst for Springfield Public Schools' $437.5 million budget. In addition to district leadership, Mr. Barber serves on the Board of Directors for ASBO International and is a Past President of MASBO. He holds a Master of Science in Accounting and Taxation Administration from the University of Hartford and holds Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent licensure from the Massachusetts DESE.