Executive Director

Esther Massie grew up in New Haven and attended Wilbur Cross High School where she served as class president.  She is a graduate of Wesleyan University and holds a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership from Teachers College at Columbia University.  She began her relationship with LEAP in the summer of 1993 as a Senior Counselor in the Westville Manor neighborhood. 

 

After graduating college, at the age of 22, Esther was appointed the LEAP City Manager for New London.  After leaving LEAP, she held various leadership positions in a wide range of educational and youth serving organizations around the country, including Director of Operations for Heads Up in Washington, D.C. and Regional Program Manager for Edison Learning in Chicago.  However, she recalls her role as LEAP City Manager as being one of the hardest jobs she ever had. She credits the professional development and the personal relationships she built while at LEAP for preparing her for the next stages in her career. She loves that LEAP prepares children and young adults to be agents of change and leaders for tomorrow.  Her hope for LEAP is to provide our children and youth with the same “you can do anything” attitude she received when she worked for LEAP in the 1990s.

 

Chair of LEAP’s Board of Directors Rita Berkson remarks, “Esther Massie is a terrific choice to lead LEAP at this critical moment of change and new opportunity.  She brings a combination of management skills, intellectual discipline and personal leadership that will serve the organization and our community well.  We are lucky to have her as our new Executive Director.”