Katie Barr 

Executive Director

Katie Barr recently assumed the role of Executive Director for TLT, moving to the area from Eugene, Oregon.  Previous to her current position, Katie taught middle and high school for twelve years focusing on students who struggled in the traditional school setting.  As a result of her work in rural  Oregon schools, Katie and a small group of principals started a non-profit called the Patrick McCurdy Education Foundation, which serves disenfranchised youth and families in rural districts of Lane County, Oregon.  Katie spent seven years as the Executive Director working with an esteemed staff to develop a best-practice, school-based mentoring model and family resource program for rural school district.  Currently, PMEF serves mentors over 150 students in two school districts and in partnership with the school districts, serves over 500 families.

"I believe education is attainable for all students.  Our job as educators/community members/mentors  is to lay the world at students' feet; then allow them to choose their opportunities."

Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Oregon, a Masters in Education: Educational Leadership from San Francisco State University, a Teaching Certificate in Social Studies and English from Dominican University, and an Administrative License from the University of Oregon.

Mary Beth Benedetti
TLT South Program Coordinator
Mary Beth Nowak Benedetti migrated to the west coast 14 years ago from her hometown of Chicago. After graduating from college, Mary Beth volunteered with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Portland, Oregon. She lived in Fairbanks, Alaska before settling in Petaluma.

Mary Beth has served in the social service field as a case worker assisting people living with HIV and AIDS, a family educ ator and behavioral consultant, and a job coach for adults with disabilities. Most recently she has taught special education in public high schools in Oregon and at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma.

“ Education empowers us to become contributing members of society while exercising and developing our talents. We have to further propel that learning to include our values and traditions while being mindful of our civic responsibilities.”

Mary Beth holds a B.S. in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and a M.S. in Special Education from University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. She is a former U.S. Army Officer (Reserves). Mary Beth is the mom to three children.

Maisie McCarty
TLT North Coordinator
Maisie McCarty is TLT North’s Coordinator. She has lived in Sonoma County for 30 years, working as a high school teacher, restaurant owner/operator and as a paralegal at Kelly Jackson & Christianson, where she still works part time.

She has served on the Schools Plus Board of Directors (as president of the board in 1999), Schools Plus Endowment and on the TLT Board of Directors (president in 2003-2004). She graduated from UC Berkeley with a major in Political Science and a minor in History. She holds a lifetime California teaching credential.

Maisie is thrilled to work with such dynamic teens as those in TLT. Her vision of TLT is as a springboard for an amazing group of students to enter into the world as leaders in their community and beyond. She expects big things from her TLT students and knows she will be proud of what they will accomplish in the years to come.