Lebanon Public Schools
Superintendent Gonzalez's August 2025 Update
Heart of the Harvest
The Heart of the Harvest recognition honors an individual whose extraordinary commitment, selfless volunteerism, and unwavering dedication have made a lasting impact on Lebanon Public Schools. Like the hands that tend and nurture a thriving harvest, this individual has given generously of their time, talents, and heart—helping to grow learners, cultivate leaders, and create legacies that will benefit generations to come.
Their efforts reflect the very essence of our district’s vision. Whether through steadfast support, behind-the-scenes contributions, or visible acts of service, the recipient of this award embodies the spirit of community and the belief that our schools flourish when we all come together in service of our students. We are proud to recognize their enduring influence and heartfelt commitment to our shared mission.
This month we recognize Rachael Archer. She moved to Lebanon in 2005, where she now lives with her husband, Sean, and their two children—Kennedy (13) and Benjamin (10). She graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University and has worked at the Metropolitan District in various finance roles since 2000.
Over the past nine years, she has been deeply involved in the LES PTA—serving five years as treasurer and three as president. She is incredibly proud of what they accomplished together. They have maintained beloved traditions like the Mini Mudder and Family Dance while expanding our impact through increased donations for field trips and school assemblies. They have also made larger contributions, including equipment for morning announcements and Promethean smart boards.
Following the challenges of COVID-19, one of her goals was to help rebuild the school community through fun, family-friendly events such as bingo, movie nights, and game nights. They also launched a new tradition—the Holiday Extravaganza—which features a kids’ market for holiday shopping, craft activities, and a vendor fair. One of the highlights is a community cookie competition, where staff, students, and community members are invited to serve as judges.
As those efforts helped bring families back together, the next goal was to strengthen connections across all three schools. To support that, they began hosting movie nights at Lyman Memorial High School, giving LES students a chance to experience the high school environment in a positive and engaging way.
Last year was her final year with the LES PTA, as her youngest is now entering 5th grade. She ended her time there by introducing a few new initiatives to continue to connect all three schools. This includes inviting 5th and 6th graders to the Mini Mudder to strengthen ties between LES and LMS, and organizing an exhibition basketball game with students and staff from all three schools—something she had long hoped to do. She says, "though my time at LES has ended, I’ve continued volunteering at LMS and am now taking on a larger role as the PTO treasurer".
She continued to share that since 2018, she has served as the Tournament Director for the Lebanon Soccer Club. She was excited to boast that the tournament has grown significantly, now featuring 59 soccer games, food trucks, a large basket raffle, and even a visit from the Hartford Athletic mascot! As if this is not enough, Rachael also manages the Soccer Club’s booth at the Lebanon Fair and have served as treasurer for the past two years.
Continuing to demonstrate her passion for giving back to our community, Rachael has been a baseball and softball coach for Little League for nine years, coaching around 19 teams. She proudly described how her final season ended on a high note, with the girls’ team winning the district championship and finishing as sectional runners-up. For the last four years, she has served as Vice President of Softball, helping grow and lead the program.
Furthermore Rachael has also been a member of the Lebanon Recreation Commission since 2021, serving as treasurer. In this role, she helped plan town events and work to enhance recreation opportunities, fields, and playgrounds for all residents.
In November 2023, she says she "was honored" to be elected to the Board of Education. She describes her role on the board in this way, "as a board member, I am deeply committed to ensuring every child in Lebanon receives a high-quality education—one that prepares them for the future and enriches their school experience through academics, the arts, and athletics".
Her goals for the upcoming school year include continuing to improve the student experience and supporting teachers and staff. She says, "I’ve learned that running a school system involves much more than just education—there are facilities to maintain, financial decisions to make, security to ensure, and programs to support. I look forward to working collaboratively with the board to make meaningful improvements in every area we can".
Our interview concluded with Rachael talking about what she loves most about living in Lebanon—and being involved in so many organizations—which is the strong sense of community. "Whether it’s at school, on the field, or during town events, Lebanon families consistently show up for one another. It’s the kind of place where you’re likely to run into a friendly face at the library or during a community celebration like the Dancefest and Lebanon Fair. I feel confident knowing that my children are part of a caring environment, where families look out for each other and where school staff, neighbors, and friends are always willing to lend support. I’m proud to be part of a town that comes together in both times of need and moments of joy. Lebanon may be small, but the heart of this community is incredibly big. That’s what brings me pride—and why I volunteer".
Rachael thanks for all you do for our community.
Lebanon Public Schools
Email: andrew.gonzalez@lebanonct.org
Website: https://www.lebanonct.org/
Location: 891 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT, USA
Phone: 860-642-5637