An Educator and Advocate
Sandy Harte Posthumously Honored as a 2025 Volunteer of the Year
This summer, ProKids lost a fierce advocate in Sandy Harte, a career-long educator turned champion for our kids.
Well before joining our ranks as a ProKids volunteer, Sandy was on the vanguard of gifted education, as a teacher, a counselor, and later a principal. Not one but two ProKids staff members had the privilege of being taught by her — and were lucky enough to continue their learning decades later. Of Sandy’s reintroduction into her life, our communication manager Laine said: “It was like fourth grade me, hopping up and down with my backpack.”
Julie, a CASA Manager, remembers Sandy as an amazingly patient, yet challenging teacher. She assessed her students’ potential and pushed them toward it. Laine agrees, swearing actually, that Sandy was the hardest teacher she ever had (all the way through grad school).
In 1992, when talking Barbie famously said “math class is tough,” Sandy had Laine and her classmates write letters to Mattel, standing up for sharp, curious girls… What a force!
When she made it to ProKids, Sandy served as what is known as a parent surrogate on our Education Team, assessing the complex needs of children who often start at a disadvantage and continue to lose academic progress when placed in the system. Her expertise and advocacy ensured that countless kids — whether diagnosed with learning disabilities or traumatized by abuse and neglect — had access to accommodations in the classroom.
According to Charlotte, a ProKids Advocacy Director, Sandy was well-respected from the classroom setting to the larger system context due to advocacy and breadth of experience as a teacher, counselor, and principal. As a regular attendee of system-wide meetings, Sandy frequently represented ProKids in rooms full of a variety of professionals. She was never afraid to express an opinion, was soft spoken and determined.
And of course, she did more, choosing to strengthen ProKids by joining our board. I found she was often the first in any meeting to ask the question: How will this affect the children? No matter the topic.
When her health took a turn toward the end of her board term, Sandy stepped away from the board, but incredibly, chose to remain on the Education Team. We were told that even on the toughest days, she was quick to get out of bed for team meetings. Sandy would not forget ProKids’ children.
Her love of learning, her dedicated, joyful advocacy, and her drive to make our children’s lives better is an inspiration. Sandy gave countless kids the chance to learn, grow, and dream. And her legacy will live on in our kids and us.
Sandy’s husband accepts the award on behalf of the family.