Community Profile: Hollie Saborido

It would be hard to overstate the impact Hollie Saborido – board member, PTO President, and much more – has had on our school in the six years since her family joined High Meadow.

A New Jersey native, Hollie Saborido first considered High Meadow in 2015, when she, her husband, and their three children relocated to New Paltz to be closer to family and friends. “I was intimidated by the thought of having to trek 25 minutes over the mountain every day to get the kids to and from school,” she recalls. Accustomed to the convenience of their life in Middletown, NJ, “we ended up enrolling at a different private school, closer to our home.”

A few years later, though, looking for a change for her older two kids, Hollie trekked on over the mountain for a campus tour, connected with staff and families, and soon, “I knew HMS was exactly where we were meant to be. I was drawn to the progressive model and found that the school’s mission aligned with my personal beliefs on education.” Her oldest, Brianna, is now a sophomore at New Paltz High School; middle child, Hudson, is in 8th grade; and the youngest, Mikaela, is in 3rd.

Not long after Hollie joined High Meadow, the COVID pandemic put many of our school’s beloved community-based activities and groups on hold, including the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO). In 2021, emerging from lockdown restrictions, Hollie expressed interest in supporting the return of the PTO, and was soon asked to take the lead, bringing her own experience as an educator.

With a Bachelor's degree in Psychology/Special Education from Marist College and a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Scranton, Hollie is certified as both a general and special education teacher. She’s worked in the Anderson Center for Autism in Staatsburg as a classroom assistant and taught 7th and 8th Grade Humanities at the Hoboken Charter School in New Jersey, where she also coordinated fundraising efforts, developed curriculum and service learning opportunities, and supported the administrative team.   

“I was elected President of the PTO at the start of the 2021/22 school year and have remained in that role since," she recalls. "The first two years were spent rebuilding, determining what PTO model best suited our small school community, and setting a solid foundation. We’ve brought back versions of beloved HMS traditions and introduced new and exciting events and activities, all with the intention of best supporting and engaging our school community. It’s been a lot of work, but so meaningful! I’m proud of what we’ve built and the community that continues to grow and become stronger as a result of it all.”

During this same time, Hollie’s extended family has also made a very meaningful contribution to High Meadow. “The Helen’s Hope Foundation is my family’s foundation," she explains. "My sister and I work together to run the day to day operations and grant cycles with support from my sister-in-law. My parents and my brother serve on our board. Two of my children and one of my nephews are now engaged in our work as well.”

The groundwork for the Helen’s Hope Foundation was laid in 2000 by Hollie’s mother, in the wake of Helen's death from lung cancer. “It was a way for my mom to grieve with intention and honor my grandmother," she says.

Helen was born in 1928 to a single mother and suffered turmoil and abuse as a young girl. She spent her childhood in and out of orphanages and foster families. In her late teens, Helen and her sister were placed with a foster mother with whom they remained with until they reached the age of 18. 

Despite the trauma of her childhood, Hollie says, “my grandmother faced each day with courage, determination, and hope. It is her spirit that inspired the Helen’s Hope Foundation, and while we have grown and expanded since its inception, our mission remains dedicated to supporting underprivileged youth with the hope that any child in need, or stripped of their childhood, as Helen was, can have support and guidance to overcome any obstacle.” 

In 2020, the Helen’s Hope Foundation began a partnership with High Meadow to establish the Hope for the Future scholarship program, providing financial assistance to qualifying BIPOC students (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). Once awarded, each scholarship applies for the duration of a students’ educational journey, 4th through 8th grade. Since 2023/24 school year, $40,000 in awards have been distributed.

Some of Hollie’s accomplishments as PTO President include introducing AcornFest, our fall festival, and the Halloween Trunk or Treat, producing many family and middle school dances, and reinvigorating Fireside Fridays, a longstanding HMS tradition.

“Our biggest change this year is that we've revamped our annual book fair fundraiser,” Hollie says with excitement. “In lieu of a traditional book fair, we are shifting to a used-book book fair. Not only is this a more eco-friendly model, but it also gives us the ability to set the book prices for more budget-friendly options. We'll offer gently used children's and adult's books, all donated by members of our community.”

The "Secondhand Story Book Fair" will launch on Wednesday, October 8th and run through Friday, October 10th, with titles priced from $1-$5. Any remaining books will be donated to local organizations. 

Also this year, Hollie will take part in her family’s second High Meadow graduation. “I have so many emotions around this,” she says. “I can't wait to see the 8th graders busy with Capstone projects and This I Believe speeches, two incredibly meaningful components of the 8th grade program here.”

“To us, High Meadow is more than a school, it’s a family,” Hollie adds. “We’ve stayed committed for this reason, and because of the school’s leadership in progressive education. High Meadow staff value childhood – allowing kids to explore and play and get their hands dirty. They encourage curiosity and support students in building confidence in themselves and their ideas. We are grateful to be a part of this community!”

And we are grateful for you, Hollie!