BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Tapestry Charter School is governed by a Board of Trustees, with oversight from the New York State Education Department and the State University of New York.

To contact the entire TCS Board of Trustees, feel free to email them at: board@tapestryschool.org.  To view Tapestry’s formal Complaint & Inquiry Process, click here.

Meeting Schedule > ;

9 am on Fridays on the dates listed below. Unless noted, all meetings will be held at:

111 Great Arrow Ave.- 2nd Floor Library 

Previous Meeting Minutes >

Alfred J. Wright

Chair

Alfred (A.J.) Wright joined the Board in July 2017. Mr. Wright is the government affairs manager at BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, where he manages the health plan’s government affairs program, including advising senior leadership on legislation, policy and political action and educating government officials on the value the health plan provides its members, employers and the communities it serves.  Prior to joining BlueCross BlueShield in 2014, Wright was at the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, as Senior Director, Government Relations. Additionally, Wright has served as director of district operations for NYS Assembly member Jack Quinn III, and as field representative for Congressman Jack Quinn, Jr.

Mr. Wright received a bachelor’s degree in government from St. Lawrence University and attended the American University Washington Semester. Wright serves on the Bishop Timon/St. Jude High School Franciscan Mentors committee and has been a team captain for Ride for Roswell. He resides in University Park in the City of Buffalo with his wife, Lindsay, and their children, Tapestry kindergartener Ben, and not-quite-school-aged Edison and Hattie.

Luanne Firestone

Vice-Chair 

Luanne Firestone has served on the Board since the Spring of 2017. Mrs. Firestone is the Executive Director of Family Promise of Western New York, an agency serving homeless families in this community. Mrs. Firestone holds a Masters of Arts in Theology from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA and a Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University.

Joshua Feinstein

Secretary

Joshua Feinstein serves as the Secretary of the Board and has served on the Board since 2013. Mr. Feinstein is a partner at the law firm of Hodgson Russ LLP where he represents businesses and public entities in a range of commercial, employment, and health-care regulatory matters. Before turning to the law, Mr. Feinstein received a Ph.D. in history from Stanford University. Mr. Feinstein held teaching positions at both Stanford University and Emory University and published a book on post-WWII Germany.

Originally from New York City, Mr. Feinstein has lived in Buffalo for over twenty years. Mr. Feinstein received a B.A., high honors from Swarthmore College, a Ph.D. from Stanford University and a J.D, cum laude, from the New York University School of Law.

Dr. Hilary Lochte

Trustee

Dr. Hilary Lochte joined the Board in September of 2020. Hilary Lochte is an Assistant Professor at Buffalo State College, in the English Education and Elementary Education departments.  She received a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, a Master’s in Education, and Doctorate in Sociological Foundations of Education all from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Her research, teaching, and service focus on the needs of youth in today’s urban communities as she provides support for new and practicing teachers to utilize multicultural children’s literature in service of powerful literacy. Dr. Lochte teaches courses in Children’s Literature, Young Adult Literature and Methods of Teaching Language She also supervises student teachers. 

She is also Director of the Buffalo Urban Teacher Graduate Residency Program at Buffalo State. This New York State funded diversity initiative supports Teaching Assistants and Teacher Aides from the Buffalo Public Schools as they earn MS Ed’s and teacher certification.

Dr. Lochte’s work and research focuses on the current context of teacher education including diversity and equity in schools and in teacher education, and diversity in Children’s and Young Adult Literature.  Her most recent co-edited book, entitled Teacher Performance Assessment and Accountability Reforms: The Impacts of edTPA on Teaching and Schools (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017) was awarded the 2017 Critics Choice Award by the American Educational Studies Association. 

Hilary is a proud Buffalo native and resident of the west side.  

Daniel Robertson

Trustee

Daniel Robertson is a native of Buffalo, NY and currently serves as the Program Manager of the Boys and Men of Color Initiative with Say Yes Buffalo. Daniel is the proud father of a beautiful daughter and a product of both Buffalo Public Schools and Turner Carroll High School. Often referred to as “Mr. Daniel” or “Mr. D” by parents and students, he has always had a passion for serving and mentoring youth, while helping to provide them with the same opportunities he was afforded to reach his goals as a student. 

Daniel attended the University at Buffalo where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree Early Childhood Education. He also obtained a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Medaille College. Daniel was recognized by Buffalo Business First as a 30 Under Thirty Honoree, along with recognition from CAO’s Education Task Force, Mayor Byron W. Brown, The Buffalo Urban League of Young Professionals, and Grassroots due to his valuable contributions in the field of youth services and the community. 

Daniel is now charged with what he refers to as “the most challenging and important work of his life” which involves improving life outcomes for boys and young men of color. 

Daniel’s pursuit of academic excellence, professional accomplishments and insurmountable commitment to educating and supporting youth is evident in all of his endeavors.

Betsy Behrend

Trustee

Betsy Behrend has served on the Board since 2017.  Ms. Behrend is Senior Director for Operations and Communications at Say Yes Buffalo. She has more than 20 years of experience directing national and regional programs for nonprofits, corporations, foundations and government agencies in cities around the United States that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, education, healthcare, and social services.

Prior to Say Yes Betsy held leadership positions at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and at a national public relations firm in Washington, DC. Betsy has volunteered her time toward the advancement of several Western New York nonprofit organizations including Saint Mary’s School for the Deaf, the American Red Cross Greater Buffalo Chapter, the Family Justice Center and the P2 Collaborative. Betsy is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. She and her family live in North Buffalo.

Patrick Lewis

Trustee

Patrick Lewis has served on the Board since 2015. Mr. Lewis is an advertising professional at Mower, specializing in paid media and marketing strategy. Prior to Mower, Patrick lived in New York, working in advertising sales and marketing for Animal Planet and The Travel Channel. He currently resides in the Allentown neighborhood of Buffalo with his wife, Ashley, and their two children, Henry and Sally. Mr. Lewis received a B.A. from Gettysburg College.

Lindsey E. Dotson, CFRE

Trustee

Lindsey E. Dotson joined the Board in June of 2019. Lindsey has grown fundraising programs and managed large-scale events and operations in the non-profit sector for more than 13 years. She currently serves as the Assistant Development Director at BestSelf Behavioral Health.

A member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals since 2013, she is Treasurer for the WNY Chapter and has served on myriad committees. She also volunteers her time for Hospice Buffalo and for the Higher Education Administration Department at SUNY Buffalo State.

Dotson holds a B.A. in communication studies from Canisius College, an M.S. in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from SUNY Buffalo State, and has received her Certified Fund Raising Executive certificate. 

Jeremy Hazelton

Trustee

Jeremy Hazelton joined the Board in December of 2020. Mr. Hazelton is the Executive Director of 716 Ministries, an entrepreneurial non-profit in Buffalo, NY, focused on work force and community development. Jeremy lives on the westside of Buffalo with his wife Audra and their three children.

Javeena Edwards, MBA

Trustee

Javeena Edwards joined the board in September of 2022.  Javeena A. Edwards, MBA has over 15+ years of experience within the accounting and finance field. Over the course of her career, she has cultivated a diverse background of experience across industries such as banking, manufacturing, medical, and not for profit in the concentration of accounting/finance. Some of her many accomplishments includes her involvement in various projects such as new system integration, corporate acquisitions, talent development, departmental policy and procedure implementations.

Javeena currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of Girl Scouts of WNY. GSWNY’s mission includes building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Javeena is also the owner of JWV Consulting Firm, LLC, this is a finance/accounting firm who offers services like not for profit financial consulting, and bookkeeping to small businesses in the WNY area. Javeena’s academic background includes attending Kenmore West High School, bachelor’s degree in finance from The University of Buffalo School of Management, and a MBA from Medaille University.

Aside from her professional career, she is a wife to a Buffalo firefighter (Tyrrell Edwards) and a mother of three beautiful children (Nysaiah, Janiya, and Taylor Joi). Javeena is the, Vice President of Crisis Services Foundation Board, Treasurer of Board Trustee for Buffalo Commons Charter School, and Board Member for Peaceprints of WNY.

Javeena was born and raised within the inner city of Buffalo NY, therefore she has a strong connection and passion to ensuring unserved populations within the City of Buffalo voices are heard and their concerns are addressed to the greater masses. Cultivating strong relations within her community is a desire and passion of Javeena. She is a firm believer in community engagement, Javeena believes that it is our duty to give back in any way possible in order to help others reach their goals and be successful.

Daniel Pyne

Treasuer

Daniel Pyne is a Finance Manager at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, focusing on financial reporting and treasury. Prior to Roswell Park, Daniel held accounting and financial reporting roles within the banking, food service / hospitality, insurance, and public accounting industries. He currently resides in the Elmwood Village neighborhood of Buffalo with his wife, Chrissy, and their two children, Haddie and Florence. Mr. Pyne received a BSBA, Accounting and MBA from John Carroll University. He also holds a Certified Public Accounting license in the State of New York.

Taylor Hunter

Trustee

Biography coming soon!

Shai Arnold

Trustee

Biography coming soon!