Robert Carpenter

Robert serves as Board Chair for the Essex Westford School District, a unified 4000-student district in Essex, Vermont. He is also the Director of School Supports for the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association. Robert is responsible for expanding MCPSA’s existing board governance statewide programming, designing and implementing new board-centered programs, and providing technical support to build board capacity. Before joining MCPSA, Robert managed chapter boards across the nation at Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY); supporting organizational compliance, board and volunteer recruitment, development, succession planning, and operations.

Robert has seen the impact as a School Board Partners Fellow (Cohort 6) and a member of the inaugural cohort of the Certificate in Empowered School Board Governance (ESBG) in partnership with CSU (2025). He is dedicated to the impact that SBP has both nationally and regionally.

A former math teacher, Robert transitioned to the nonprofit world to support equitable systems and communities with both targeted strategy and community-driven energy. Whether through regional service initiatives, the annual $100 million budget crafting process, executive educational leadership searches, or partnering with student board members in state-wide advocacy, Robert centers and strategically leverages community voice.