HEAD OF SCHOOL
From Heather J. Pinedo-Burns, Ed.D.
Dear Prospective Families,
At Acera, we believe that school should never get in the way of a great education.
Founded 16 years ago by visionary educator Courtney Dickinson, Acera began with a bold idea: that students thrive when they are known deeply, trusted with meaningful choice, and inspired by passionate teachers who create space for inquiry, exploration, and discovery. What started as a dream has become a vibrant community of curious thinkers, joyful makers, compassionate collaborators, and confident leaders.
We are a school grounded in love and respect—for students, teachers, learning, and community. Our mission is to ignite each child’s passion for learning and help them discover who they are and the kind of impact they want to make in the world. With over 40 Upper School electives each year, individualized learning plans, sustained blocks of time for thinking and making, Creativity Wednesdays, and daily recess on our beloved Adventure Playground, Acera empowers students to lead their own learning journeys—within a community where they are seen, heard, and celebrated.
Acera draws students from more than 25 New England communities. Our approach and ideal student to staff ratio fosters intimacy and connection that make our school so special. Our core values—Community, Openness, Curiosity & Innovation, Integrity, and Leadership—are lived each day in the way our students collaborate, take risks, solve problems, and support one another.
As Head of School, I am honored to continue to forward Acera’s mission and to lead with a deep commitment to nurturing a purposeful, engaging, and joyful learning experience for all students. The cornerstone of Acera is our four key commitments: Giftedness, Stewardship, Stability, and Growth. These priorities ensure that we both preserve what makes Acera extraordinary and continue to evolve in ways that sustain our mission for generations to come. As part of this evolution, we expanded our physical campus with the purchase and renovation of the building next door (1 Lowell Ave). This year, we proudly opened our new woodshop, and we look forward to building out the remainder of the space next spring to provide additional opportunities for students in the arts and sciences.
We warmly invite you to visit and experience the magic of Acera for yourself. Join us for an Information Session, attend the Acera Arts Festival, come to one of our Math Open Houses, or Girls in STEM events. We look forward to welcoming you—and sharing what makes Acera a place where students thrive and love to learn.
Warmly,
Heather J. Pinedo-Burns, Ed.D.
Head of School