The inductees comprising the 13th class are Stephen Bissette, Katherine Cadwell, Maureen Charron Shea, Lois Athalee Knight Sabin and Travis C. Taylor.
Stephen Bissette - CLASS OF 1976 (Harwood Union High School)
Stephen R. Bissette, graduated from Harwood in 1976. He is a comic book artist, editor, and publisher, best known for his work in the horror genre. A lifelong Vermonter, Bissette’s artistic journey began with the publication of his first work, “Abyss” (1976). Soon after, he enrolled in the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art. His early career included illustrations for Heavy Metal, Epic Illustrated, Bizarre Adventures, and Scholastic's Weird Worlds and Bananas magazines, where he collaborated with author R. L. Stine.
In 1999, Bissette transitioned into education, becoming a faculty member at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont. In parallel, he launched Green Mountain Cinema, a publication focused on Vermont’s independent film scene, and published five volumes of Blur, a collection of his film reviews and criticism.
Bissette’s contributions to comics, horror, and education have been widely recognized. In addition to his multiple Kirby and Eisner Awards, he was nominated for the 1993 Eisner Award for "Best Editor" for Taboo and received the Inkpot Award in 1997. His work continues to be preserved and celebrated through the Stephen R. Bissette Collection at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
Through decades of artistic innovation, mentorship, and advocacy for independent and genre storytelling, Stephen R. Bissette has left a mark. His legacy is one of bold creativity, intellectual rigor, and deep respect for the power of story to challenge, inspire, and endure.
Katherine Cadwell - CLASS OF 1973 (Hathaway Brown School)
Katherine Cadwell earned a BA in Sociology and Anthropology from Middlebury College in 1978. She earned a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a cognate in International Studies from the University of Denver (1980–1981), and is enrolled in Classical Philosophy courses at St. John’s College. Her career as an educator focused on empowering student voice and fostering community dialogue. She is one of the co-founders of PH International, formerly Project Harmony, in 1985. In 2012, she initiated Socrates Café events at Harwood Union High School, gatherings that continue.
She trains educators across Vermont to host similar conversations. She is the Vermont co-chair of Braver Angels, a national nonprofit dedicated to bridging the political divide. Last fall, she partnered with Harwood faculty and student Harkness leaders to bring these tools to the Harwood School Board and presented their work at the Rowland Foundation Conference. In 2016, Cadwell was awarded a Rowland Fellowship to bring Harkness Pedagogy to Harwood. That work continues today at Harwood and in Vermont.
This work earned national recognition in 2023 when Harwood received the MAGNA Silver award from the National School Boards Association for the Harkness Initiative. That same year, Cadwell and Dr. Mike Leichliter titled “Student Driven Learning in Vermont,” published in the American School Board Journal. Her website, Strategies in Classroom Dialogue, and her TED Talk, Students Need to Lead the Classroom, Not Teachers, highlight her work.
Since stepping back from full-time teaching in 2021, she has been teaching graduate-level courses on the Harkness method and supporting teachers throughout Vermont and New England.
Maureen Charron Shea - CLASS OF 1960 (Manchester Central School)
Maureen Charron-Shea earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Vermont in 1976 and a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology in 1978. After working in the Burlington School District, Central Vermont Hospital, the Washington Central Supervisory Union and the Montpelier school district, she joined Harwood Union in 1988 where for nearly three decades, she served as a speech-language pathologist, working with students of all abilities and backgrounds. While her official role focused on communication skills, her mission reached far beyond the walls of the special education classroom.
A pivotal conversation shaped her work and changed Harwood. A friend, the parent of a child with Down syndrome, confided how painful it was to hear the word “retard,” That moment lit a fire in Shea. She brought a question to her students: What if those with disabilities told their own stories? Would people understand them better? Would they be treated differently? From that question, Speak Out for Understanding was born. It began as a single documentary, created by a group of students who shared their experiences with ADHD, dyslexia, Down syndrome, and more. The film won awards and sparked a movement. Speak Out evolved into a student-led initiative. Students wrote children’s books, crafted poetry and rap, made public service announcements, and produced a second documentary. Their goal was raising awareness, creating connection, and building community. Speak Out became a vehicle for youth leadership, social change, and authentic inclusion.
Charron-Shea designed and taught a disability awareness curriculum delivered to every ninth-grade class each year. She founded Vermont’s first Best Buddies chapter at Harwood, building friendships between students with and without disabilities. This was done beyond her teaching responsibilities, funded by grants she sought and received.
As Speak Out for Understanding gained momentum, Charron-Shea was invited to share the work on state and national stages, receiving multiple awards over the years for her work. She presented at conferences across New England and the country, spoke at the Vermont Principals Association and UVM institutes, and was featured on Vermont Public Television. Her articles appeared in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Journal and Teaching Tolerance Magazine, and her work was celebrated in the Waterbury Record. She also received letters of recognition from U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders – honors she holds dear.
For Charron-Shea, speech therapy was never just about language – it was about connection, dignity, identity, and voice. It was about giving students the tools not only to communicate but to stand up, speak out, and lead. Her legacy is not only measured in programs or awards, but in the courage, empathy, and self-advocacy of the students she empowered.
Lois Knight Sabin - CLASS OF 1941 (Waterbury High School)
Lois Athalee Knight Sabin was born on June 3, 1924, in Skowhegan, Maine, and arrived in Waterbury with her family in 1936. As a standout athlete on the 1940 girls championship basketball team, she earned the title of “Outstanding Player” for Vermont, an honor awarded by coaches and referees across the league.
After graduating from Waterbury High School in 1941, she enrolled in a five-year nursing program at Simmons College in Boston, completing her degree in 1946. On January 19, 1946, Lois married Ken Sabin Church. Together, they built a life on Randall Street in Waterbury where they raised their children, Jay and Jane. Sabin dedicated 25 years to the field of nursing education at the Vermont State Hospital. As director of nursing education, she was instrumental in developing a psychiatric technician curriculum that was later adopted by the Community College of Vermont. Encouraged to continue her education, she earned her master’s degree in Administration in the 1970s. She went on to become the nursing administrator at the hospital, leading through the complex period of deinstitutionalization with strength and professionalism.
After retiring in 1984, Sabin turned her attention to her Waterbury, volunteering with the Waterbury Historical Society, playing a major role in organizing its museum and contributing to the book “History of Waterbury 1915–1991.” She served as co-president of the society for nine years. She also gave her time to the Waterbury Food Shelf.
Travis Taylor - CLASS OF 1995 (Harwood Union High School)
Travis C. Taylor, graduated from Harwood Union in 1995, distinguishing himself athletically and academically as a student. He played junior varsity basketball and baseball. From 1992 to 1995, he was a multi-year varsity athlete in both sports, earning letters each year. On the basketball court, he was a prolific scorer, amassing over 1,300 points in just three seasons – an average that placed him among the highest scorers in program history. He was named “Player of the Game” multiple times by WDEV. He served as captain for the varsity baseball team during the 1993–1994 and 1994–1995 seasons, guiding Harwood to a strong finish that included a playoff loss in the quarterfinals. Taylor was the starting center for Vermont’s All-State (Alhambra) basketball team and was named to the All-State First Team by the Burlington Free Press. He was also recognized as the top scorer in the North/South All-Star Game and he earned a spot on the Vermont All-State Baseball Team.
Following graduation, he was recruited to play baseball for the University of Vermont where he graduated with honors in Economics. After graduation he worked as a stock trader and market maker for Fleet Bank from 1996 to 2001 before launching Topwater Capital LLC, in 2002. That company was acquired in 2010 by Leucadia National Corp/Jefferies Financial Group, a publicly traded company with over $50 billion in total assets. He remains involved with Topwater, serving as the co-head and managing director of the Topwater Division of Leucadia Asset Management, along with his longtime business partner Bryan Borgia.
Additionally, he is the managing partner and co-owner of Monroe Capital and Maple Bridge Funding. He has continued to serve in executive roles across these firms while also participating in various charitable fundraising efforts.
This year’s Hall of Fame Ceremony is November 15, 2025, at The Inn at the Round Barn Farm, Waitsfield. For tickets to the event, contact Ian Fraunfelder,
To make a financial donation to the Harwood Hall of Fame, contact Tommy Young (
