Our Team

Founder. Executive Director.
Director of Organizational and Program Development.

Adam's passion for serving the needs of children in Newtown through REACH is a natural outgrowth of his many years as an educator, school administrator, and youth sports coach. That's because he embodies the very same core values that REACH aspires to pass along. From dedicated husband and father to accomplished musician and coach to active community leader, Adam recognizes the value of consistent communication and collaboration between the family, community and school to effectively support children in need.

Adam holds a BA in Elementary Education and an MSc in Science Education. He also holds a Sixth Year Degree in Education Administration and has been awarded for his work with adults with special needs.

Adam lives in Newtown, Connecticut with his wife, Lindsey, and their three children.

acarley@reachnewtown.org

Director of Finance & Operations. 

As a veteran fifth-grade teacher, Lindsey has spent countless hours in the classroom teaching, mentoring, and coaching children to reach their full potential. She is an active member of her school's leadership council and regularly serves on district curriculum writing teams. Her most powerful contribution is a determination to develop trusting and caring relationships with each child that walks through her door.

Lindsey holds a BA in Elementary Education and Communications and an MA in Education. She lives in Newtown, Connecticut with her husband, Adam, and their three children. She enjoys running, playing softball, and spending summer teaching literacy in urban communities.

lcarley@reachnewtown.org

Mentorship Director.

Jake recently graduated from the University of Connecticut. He holds a B.A. in Human Development and Family Studies, with a concentration in youth services. Among other things, he enjoys cooking, sports, and spending time outside. He has served as a coach, counselor, and mentor throughout high school and college.

In 2015, Jake held a key leadership role within the REACH program serving as Assistant Director of its inaugural summer camp. Jake enjoys working with the children of REACH on their various projects and goals. He hopes to bring a fun new vibe to this year's summer camp, tutoring academy and mentorship program. His greatest strengths are facilitating team-building games, leading competitions and infusing humor into kids lives. 

Jake plans to obtain a Masters Degree in School Counseling in the near future and hopes to be a part of team REACH for many years to come.

jaketolson@reachnewtown.org

Mentor Coordinator. 

Jeff Tolson is a dedicated high school counselor whose commitment to supporting and cultivating relationships with our town's youth extend far beyond the walls of Newtown High School or the local fields. His secret to reaching kids is simple; show how much you care by listening, be a consistent champion by their side, and strike a balance between unconditional support and accountability.

Jeff has led numerous mentoring and leadership initiatives through his Newtown Parks and Recreation Flag Football and Floor Hockey programs. The Fusion Mentoring Program, which he leads in conjunction with Newtown Youth and Family Services, is a model program in the state and is revered by students, parents, and colleagues. "It is a great honor to be involved in the REACH program with such altruistic, powerful leaders and I am hoping to help continue our culture of giving and caring for all of Newtown's youth."

Jeff lives in Newtown, Connecticut with his wife and children.

jtolson@reachnewtown.org

President, Board of Directors. 

As principal of Ox Ridge Elementary School in Darien, Connecticut, Luke champions the belief that all children play an active role in their learning development and that a teacher's job is to help guide young people to make sense of their journey.

Luke holds a BA in Psychology, an MA in Curriculum and Teaching, and is completing a PhD program at Columbia University's Teachers College. He is also an adjunct college professor who enjoys swimming, running, writing, and playing music.

lforshaw@reachnewtown.org

Vice-President, Board of Directors. 

Keith is an educator with a strong background in literacy who currently serves as the principal of an elementary school in Darien, CT associated with Columbia University's Teacher's College Reading and Writing Project.

Keith holds a BA in anthropology, an MA in Teaching, and a Sixth Year Certificate in Education Leadership. He resides in Danbury, Connecticut with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys hiking, running, and coaching youth soccer.

kmargolus@reachnewtown.org

Administrator, Board of Directors.

Andrew is a multi-talented educator at the Sherman School in Sherman, Connecticut. From sixth-grade math teacher to soccer coach to chair of the Fine Arts Committee, Andrew displays a consistent commitment to enriching the lives of children of all ages.

Andrew holds a BA in Education and Psychology, an MA in Science, and a Sixth-Year Certificate in in Administration. He enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter at home in Southbury, Connecticut. He's also a dedicated writer, youth fine arts director, youth soccer coach.

aschoefer@reachnewtown.org

Board of Directors Member. 

Eric currently serves as the Vice President of Revenue Management at PepsiCo where he has worked for nearly 20 years in various Sales, General Management and Finance roles. He and his wife Kathryn are both proud graduates of Indiana University and are raising their two boys Max and Charlie to love the Hoosiers as much as they do. Eric enjoys running, playing golf/basketball, and coaching youth sports in Newtown, CT. 

Board of Directors Member.

Joanna is a licensed clinical psychologist who has dedicated her professional work toward strengthening the emotional well being of adolescents and adults. Ever since her early college days, she has focused her energy on working with a wide variety of at-risk populations. As a doctoral level psychologist, Joanna has a particular expertise in the early identification and prevention of serious mental health difficulties. She brings to REACH an active commitment to helping the families in our community reach their greatest potential.

Joanna lives in Newtown with her husband, three children, and rescue dog, Zeus. When not carpooling her kids around town or being a spectator at their numerous youth sporting events, she enjoys skiing, tennis, traveling, and being a foster mom for rescue dogs.

jrosen@reachnewtown.org

Board of Directors Member. 

Barb Patrick, wife of Sean and mother of three fabulous teens, has been a Newtown resident since 1996. As a local artist and owner of Bitty Birdie Design, Barb lovingly makes baby quilts, t-shirt quilts, memory quilts, pillows and all sorts of other fabric goodies. Barb also dabbles in weaving words into stories and is a published author. In her nonexistent free-time, Barb loves to travel, watch movies, spend time with friends, read & eat sweets!

Board of Directors Member.

Joe is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a BA in Economics. His professional career includes mortgage banking and corporate relocation. Along with his role on the board, Joe has volunteered at REACH Mentorship and numerous REACH Expeditions.

He is passionate about serving on a leadership team for an organization that serves the town he has loved and lived in for 31 years. Throughout the many years Joe has lived in Newtown, he has coached numerous recreational and travel soccer and basketball teams and has volunteered for numerous community and church programs. Joe has been married to his wife Cindy for 31 years, and together they raised three children through the Newtown Public Schools. Joe's hobbies include gardening, fishing, model rocketry and planes, and woodworking.

jvacaro@reachnewtown.org

Board of Directors Member.

Bryan is a financial advisor and a small business owner in Newtown with nearly 20 years of experience in the financial industry. He graduated from The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business with a BA in Finance. Bryan is married with two children, and he is a very active volunteer and youth coach in his hometown of Newtown, CT.

broth@reachnewtown.org

Board of Directors Member.

Steve is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who currently serves as a Site Director at Family and Children's Aid in Danbury, CT. He has worked with clients with a variety of issues and from all different backgrounds and has had extensive experience working with people who have experienced trauma as well as issues of traumatic grief. Steve values the importance of establishing an honest therapeutic relationship with the clients in a sensitive, compassionate and respectful way.

Steve is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR), and he is a certified Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) therapist. Steve has also been trained in Solution Focused therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and various approaches to Family therapy.

sbeck@reachnewtown.org

Experiential Education Facilitator.

Born and adopted from Bucharest, Romania, Mikey lived in Italy for much of his childhood until his family moved to Northern California. He has over a decade of experience working at summer camps, outdoor education centers, and various non-profits. While living in Newtown, he works throughout New England and the Tri-State area as an Experiential Education Facilitator. He coordinates students and adults of all ages in team-building programs and challenge courses where they learn how to build trust and work together. 

Mikey studied Recreational Management at Colorado Mountain College, and received training as an EMT.

This past summer, Mikey was the Challenge Course Manager for Camp Lavi, a Modern Orthodox Jewish co-ed sleep away camp in PA. His duties included managing a staff of 6 visiting Israelis.  He loved seeing the campers and staffers go out of their comfort zone! 

Mikey is looking forward to bringing a variety of team-building and expedition skills to REACH Newtown. He looks forward to challenging others to think outside of the box!

Creative Director.

Dave is an accomplished designer with a strong background in marketing and brand communication. His portfolio spans many different forms of media and across many different brands. Dave's experience as a youth leader for junior high kids also brings a valuable element to the REACH team.

Dave lives in Norwalk, Connecticut with his wife and two daughters.

dmikes3000@gmail.com