Select Page

Assistant to the Head of the Upper School, Kristin Liotti, announced she was leaving at the end of the January 2022. Kristin started in 2009 as the Harley receptionist, and has been a magnificent colleague and friend to all at The Harley School. We will miss the easy conversations, the updates on Dom ’16 and Owen ’18, and, work related, her quick responses over the years to all of the registrar inquiries when alumni are looking for transcripts. She was great at her job and made a personal connection with all the students she worked with. Head of the Upper School, Kim McDowell (English, History, College Counseling and Head, 2000 – present) sent out a touching announcement about her departure:

Dear Colleagues,

Regrettably, I’m writing to let you know that Kristin Liotti has announced that she will be vacating her position at Harley in mid-January. During her twelve years on our campus, Kristin has served as all-school receptionist, assistant to two heads of Upper School and–to countless students–a cool Upper School “Mom.” Not only has Kristin spent years tracking down elusive students, but she has also been the principal organizer of class trips, the designer of countless playbills, Upper School locker czar, producer of back-to-school nights, and an integral member of the DEI Committee, Safety Committee, and the Harley Communication Team. I know that many of us–faculty, staff, and students–will miss Kristin’s playful creations for the video monitor outside her office. Above all, however, we’ll miss her friendship. Personally, I have long been grateful for Kristin’s inimitable blend of initiative, dependability, warmth, and loyalty. I wish her the best as she sets out to do something completely different.  Whatever that is, I know she will continue–as the late John Lewis urged–“to make noise and get in good trouble.” 

Kim

Students may create independent studies with supervising teachers throughout their Upper School experience or, during Grade 12, they can design Capstone projects—intensive collaborations with Harley faculty and off-campus mentors—involving rigorous academic study and culminating in public presentations. They are empowered to create their own curriculum, set goals, and work on time management skills in order to accomplish their objectives.

Independent Studies run the gamut from The Psychology of Sports to Furniture Design to The Neuroimaging of Alzheimer’s Disease. Capstones, meanwhile, are as diverse as the students who pursue them: Fictional Rochester, Autobiographical Art, Biomimicry Education, Organic Fuel, and Rochester Refugees. 

Indicative of Upper School curiosity and creativity, pursuits such as these distinguish our graduates in college. Through deep dives of this sort, Harley students master more than speaking, writing, and computing: they learn to communicate, advocate, collaborate, organize, listen, and empathize. 

About

Academics

Key Programming

Enrollment

Letter from the Head of School

Letter from the Editor

Features

Central Work that Matters: DEI

Harley Black Alumni Network

Climate Crisis Curriculum

Citizen Scientists

Joy Moss: Storytelling Roots

In Every Issue

Class Notes

Diane Donniger Award

By the Numbers

From the Archives

What’s (Who’s) New at Harley

Divisional Highlights

Alumni Profile: Vandebroek

Alumni Profiles: Keller

HAC Athletics

2021 Lives of Great Purpose Awards

1000 Words

Commencement 2022

Reunion 2022

In Memoriam

Retirements and Fond Farewells

Letter from the Head of School

Letter from the Editor

Features

Central Work that Matters

Affinity Group Forms

Climate Crisis Curriculum

Citizen Scientists

Joy Moss: Storytelling Roots

In Every Issue

Class Notes

Diane Donniger Award

By the Numbers

From the Archives

What’s (Who’s) New at Harley

Divisional Highlights

Alumni Profile: Vandebroek

Alumni Profiles: Keller

HAC Athletics

2021 Lives of Great Purpose Awards

1000 Words

Commencement 2022

Reunion 2022

In Memoriam

Retirements and Fond Farewells