The Newton Partnership CORE MANAGEMENT TEAM

2010-2011 Members

Margaret Hannah - Core Management Team Chair

Executive Director of the Freedman Center at the MA School of Professional Psychology

Margaret Hannah is the Executive Director of the Freedman Center for Child and Family Development at Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology (MSPP).  She received her Master's degree in education with a concentration in community counseling and psychology from the University of Miami.  Ms. Hannah has worked in schools and agencies for over 25 years, providing teacher and parent education programs and facilitating support groups.  She has also taught at the elementary level.  Ms. Hannah has served as a project director for three federal grants focusing on the delivery of mental health services within schools, as well as a grant to integrate mental health services between schools and community agencies.  Additionally, she serves on many Massachusetts committees and task forces advocating for mental health services, including the Massachusetts Academy of Pediatrics’ Mental Health Task Force and the City of Newton City-wide Emergency Response Team (CERT).  In her position at MSPP, Ms. Hannah directs Primary Project (a school-based preventive mental health initiative), manages the Warmlines Parent Teacher Resource agency, develops content for the Project INTERFACE website of mental health information and clinical services referral data, and teaches in the School Psychology and Counseling Psychology programs.  CONTACT:  margaret_hannah@mspp.edu or 617.327.6777 x295

Elaine Sterzin - Core Management Team Vice Chair

Newton Public Schools - Grants Coordinator

Elaine Sterzin is the Grants Coordinator for the Newton Public Schools, overseeing fiscal and programmatic management of federal, state, and private grants totaling more than $12 million.  She participates in strategic planning and research to secure grant funds in support of school district initiatives, and participates in collaborative partnerships with community, state and federal agencies.  Before coming to Newton, she was the Assistant Director for Finance and Administration for the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, Massachusetts Department of Public Health where she oversaw the design and procurement of a range of substance abuse prevention and treatment services, and secured funding from federal competitive grants for statewide pilot programs.  Prior to that she was the Director of Grants and Development for the Lexington Public Schools.  Additionally, earlier in her career she served as Assistant Director of the Foundation for Children with AIDS, where she designed and developed community-based services for families with children with developmental challenges, including HIV infection and substance exposure. Her work included successfully securing funding for these innovative programs from federal and foundation sources.  Ms. Sterzin has a Masters in Social Work from Simmons College School of Social Work.  CONTACT:  elaine_sterzin@newton.k12.ma.us or 617.559.9038

Bruce M. Apotheker

Newton Police Department - Lieutenant

Lieutenant Bruce M. Apotheker is a 26-year veteran of the Newton Police Department.  During that time he has served as a patrol supervisor and lieutenant in the patrol bureau.  Since 2005, he has been in command of the Community Service Bureau, where he oversees the department’s youth officers, domestic violence officer and elder affairs officer. The Community Service Bureau investigates hate crimes, youth issues and crimes, domestic violence and elder affairs and abuse.  Additionally, the Community Service Bureau is in charge of all juvenile incidents and investigations within the city, which includes being responsible for approximately 15,000 children in the Newton public and private schools. The youth officers have direct contact and an excellent rapport with the
superintendent, principals, counselors, psychologists, and support staff of the public schools.  Lieutenant Apotheker is also designated as the Civil Rights Officer for the City of Newton, and sits on the Newton Human Rights Commission as an Advisory Member. Lieutenant Apotheker is dedicated to creating partnerships with children and their families, the schools, and the multitude of resources in the Newton community.  CONTACT:  617.796.2103

Margie Daniels

Middlesex Partnerships for Youth - Executive Director

Margie Daniels is the Executive Director for Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. (MPY) a private non-profit agency dedicated to prevention and intervention efforts, in matters of health and safety for youth. This organization has been in existence for more than two decades and works closely with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.  Before coming to MPY, Ms. Daniels worked for 35 years, in public school education.  She has been a teacher, a psychologist, a Team Chairperson, a Director of Special education.  Most recently, Ms. Daniels served as the Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services in the Newton Public Schools.  In addition, she is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. She has been a clinical case worker for more than 20 years and has specialized in family and marital therapy.  Ms. Daniels studied and received degrees at University of Connecticut, Tufts University and Boston University.  She is a former School Committee Member, having served on the Topsfield School Committee.  Currently, she is an Adjunct Professor in Framingham State College’s International Program in Education. 

Sue Flicop

Newton PTO Council

Sue is an active member of the Newton community, serving on the Boards of Newton PTO Council, Newton League of Women Voters and Historic Newton, as well as on the Advisory Council of the Newton Community Service Center.  She is also a Board member of the Bostonian Society, Boston's historical society.  As the mother of three public school students, Sue served for three years as PTO Co-Chair at the Bowen Elementary School before becoming the co-chair of Newton PTO Council, a post she currently holds.  A graduate of the Peabody public schools, Sue received a BBA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (class of ’86) and an MBA from Northeastern University (class of ’90) and was a doctoral candidate at the University of Maryland College Park in the Smith School of Business studying international transportation and logistics. Her previous work was in sales and in academia.

Jenny Gamson

The Newton Partnership - Assistant Director

See about us for biographical information.

* Wayne Harding

Social Science, Research and Evaluation - Director of Projects

Dr. Wayne Harding is a founder of and is Director of Projects for Social Science Research & Evaluation, Inc. (SSRE) of Burlington, Massachusetts. With over 30 years of research experience, Dr. Harding has been a principal or co-principal investigator on grants and/or contracts from such U.S. agencies as The National Institute on Drug Abuse, The National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, United States Education Department, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, The National Institute on Mental Health, the Veteran's Administration, The National Institute of Justice, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP).  His has conducted surveys of student health behavior in over 50 communities, including Newton's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS).  Mr. Harding has authored over 150 research reports, and made over 200 presentations to both professional and general audiences. Dr. Harding’s current consultations include membership on CSAP’s Prevention Researchers and Evaluators Panel for Review of the National Outcome Measures (since 2008), and on CSAP's External Technical Advisory Group for the national cross-site evaluation of the Strategic Planning Framework State Incentive Grant Program.  Mr. Harding is on the national evaluation team for the federal Safe Schools/Healthy Students initiative and is tasked with providing technical assistance and evaluation to The Newton Partnership.

Mary E. Kern
West Suburban YMCA - Vice President of Operations
CONTACT:  maryk@westsuburbanymca.org or 617-244-6050 x3021

Judy Levin-Charns

Newton Public Schools - Assistant Superintendent for Student Services

Susan Linn

The Newton Partnership - Project Director

See about us for biographical information.

Jim McCauley

Riverside Community Care - Director of Youth and Family Services

David Sellers, Jr.

John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club of Newton - Executive Director

CONTACT:  dsellers@newtonbgc.com or 617-630-2066 x113

Gary Sinclair

Newton Community Service Center - Vice President of Youth Services

Gary Sinclair is the Vice President of Youth Services for Newton Community Service Center, where he oversees the agency’s Teen Centers, Mentor Connection, Higher Ground Adventure Camp, and two high school outreach sites. Mr. Sinclair has more than 30 years of experience working with people suffering from mental illness and addictions, specializing in youth and teen matters both as a clinician and as an administrator. He has managed teen centers, clubhouses, psychiatric emergency services and day treatment programs and has maintained a successful private practice. For the past 11 years, Mr. Sinclair served as Executive Director of the Tri-Town Council on Youth and Family Services, a North Shore agency working primarily with teens.  Mr. Sinclair is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor and a member of the American Mental Health Counselors Association and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Mr. Sinclair received a BS in Psychology and Biology from Bates College and a MEd in Counseling and Guidance from Salem State College.  CONTACT: gsinclair@ncscweb.org or 617.244.1404 x370

Stacy Swain

Newton Clergy Association

Linda Walsh

City of Newton Department of Health and Human Services - Director of Health Services

* Ex officio member