ONE HUNDRED HARLEY STORIES

For more than a decade, Jeanne Weber (Technology, 2014–present) has been transforming Harley’s youngest learners into fearless explorers of the digital world. In her classroom, students don’t simply follow instructions—they experiment, question, and learn through...

From the time he was a young child, Charlie Clark '27 has been fascinated by how things work. While most kids were playing with toys, Charlie’s parents would give him old coffee makers, to analyze, disassemble and rebuild. While his parents encouraged his curiosity,...

When Rodrigo Gutierrez joined The Harley School in 2021, he brought with him nearly two decades of experience teaching history across the country—from Texas to Connecticut, Delaware, Arizona, and most recently, Allendale Columbia. With degrees from Yale University and...

Join us as Art Rothfuss, Harley's visual storyteller, sits down with Karen Sauldo to reflect on his decade at the school and discuss the profound connections and unique programs that bring true meaning to his work within the Harley community.Art Rothfuss, our...

When Mike Buck first walked onto Harley’s campus in June of 1992, he came as the “new guy” on the night shift—cleaning classrooms, emptying trash, and quietly learning the rhythms of a school that would become a defining part of his life. Over the years, Mike moved to...

This October marked the start of a new chapter for me as I joined The Harley School as Director of Development. Though I am new to Harley, my connection to education and community has been lifelong, both personally and professionally. From my years leading fundraising...

I first came to know The Harley School through the Horizons at Harley program, an academic enrichment initiative that creates joyful opportunities for learning for students from the city of Rochester who might not otherwise have access to our incredible campus....

I first walked through Harley’s doors as a Nursery student in 1981 and graduated in 1995. My mother, Pam Kimmet P ’92, ‘95, GP ‘30, ‘33, led the Lower School, and my sister, Darcy ’92, was just ahead of me. My Harley journey included theater, jazz band, soccer,...

For 26 years, Amy Colosimo P '23, '23, has been a cornerstone of The Harley School community. From teaching French and coaching volleyball to advising students and leading the World Language department, Amy touches many aspects of our Upper School. Her steady...

When Kim “Ms. B” Bednarcyk P ‘16 first arrived at Harley, she wasn’t planning a lifelong career here—she was just picking up the Rubenstein girls, Heather ’95 and Jennifer ’92, after school. At the time, Kim was nannying for the family while earning her graduate...

Lee Allen McDermott ’64 has always felt a deep connection to Harley. She vividly remembers her first day of school, standing at the bottom of the barn steps, thinking, “Here we go!” That moment marked the beginning of a lifelong...

For Sybil Prince ‘00, P ‘37, P ‘39, Harley has always been more than a school—it was the place where she first felt truly seen. As a student navigating vulnerable years, she found teachers who recognized her humanity and nurtured her best self. That experience stayed...

When Lisa Barker became Harley’s Food and Farm Educator in 2017, she already had deep roots in the school’s sustainability work. After collaborating with Chris Hartman ’93, P ’22, ’24 through the Good Food Collective and teaching in Horizons’ garden for the past 5...

For more than three decades, Al Lamere P ’08 has quietly been one of the forces that keep Harley running. (Although anyone who has seen him walk through the Nursery hallway might argue there’s nothing quiet about the rock-star welcome he receives from the school’s...

This January marks nine years for me as an administrator at The Harley School, I am the Director of Marketing & Communications. My connection, however, goes back much further—to the day my youngest, now in Grade 12, started Kindergarten in Primary B with Mrs....

When Louise Sumner, Harley School Director, 1925-1944, arrived in Rochester in 1925 to become The Harley School’s first director (i.e. school principal), she brought with her a quiet confidence and an unshakable belief in the power of progressive education. Born and...

I wrote a story about Allison in 2024, and had the chance to have breakfast with her while I was in New York. She's been keeping busy, so I thought I’d share an update. Since graduating from The Harley School, Allison Urban-Spillane ’16 has continued to blend...

When Weldon Travis, a member of the class of ’56, called about gifting some Harley publications from the 1950’s, he wasn’t just sharing a few mementos from the past—he was opening a window into Harley’s early history and a life richly lived. Among his gifts to the...

For Matt Budd, a member of the Class of ’96, Harley has always felt like home. He first arrived at the School as a Primary 3 student and spent nearly a decade growing up in its close-knit classrooms before leaving in 1992 for McQuaid Jesuit when his parents hoped for...

When Fati Ziai ’82 arrived in Rochester from Iran as an eighth grader, she imagined she’d only be in the United States for a year. Her father, a doctor, had been looking for an opportunity to spend time in the United States. After exploring options in Philadelphia,...

When Kate Skivington Hillman ’01, Associate Head of School for Academics and Student Life at Berkshire Country Day School, toured The Harley School as a sophomore, she didn’t know she was about to find a place that would shape her future in education. Kate had spent...

When Shuo “Rick” Li ’20 arrived at The Harley School from China as a 15-year-old, he was both nervous and excited. He had dreamed of studying in the United States and was drawn to Harley through an international student agency that ranked the school highly for its...

Excited to share that Rebekah Sherman-Myntti ’09, has been featured in Marie Claire’s 2025 Changemakers list! As a filmmaker, producer, and advocate for artistic innovation, Rebekah embodies what it means to be a changemaker—challenging convention, uplifting new...