Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Location: Danversport - 161 Elliott Street, Danvers, MA

Program: 6:00 - 8:30 P.M. Networking and cocktails followed by dinner,
powerful speaking and fundraising program

Tickets for the event are $150 per person. Alumni tickets are $75.

2026 Featured Speakers

Dr. Stephen Zrike Jr. - Massachusetts Secretary of Education

Before his appointment as Massachusetts Secretary of Education in 2026, Dr. Zrike served as Superintendent of Schools for Salem Public Schools, where he led academic recovery, expanded student programs, and strengthened family and community partnerships—achieving gains in MCAS scores, full-day pre-K, and dual language and early college programs. He previously led school turnarounds in Holyoke, Wakefield, Chicago, and Boston, beginning his career as a fifth-grade teacher in Andover, Massachusetts.

Dr. Zrike holds a BA in History from Dartmouth College and a master’s and doctorate in education from Harvard University.

Sia-Linda Lebbie - LEAP Alumna

Sia-Linda Lebbie’s journey with LEAP began at age eight, soon after her family resettled in Salem from Sierra Leone. While her mother attended computer classes, Sia-Linda’s curiosity caught the attention of Executive Director Linda Saris, beginning a lifelong mentorship. LEAP has been a guiding force in her education, career, and leadership journey.

A valedictorian of Salem Academy Charter School, Sia-Linda went on to the University of Pennsylvania on a full scholarship, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2021. She then worked at Google as a go-to-market hardware digital marketing strategist and is now pursuing an MBA at the University of Notre Dame. Throughout her journey, she has remained connected to LEAP as a volunteer and mentor.

2026 Honoree

Linda Saris

LEAP Founder and Executive Director (2002 - Present)

In 1998, Linda Saris envisioned a safe, academically focused
space where teens from low-income and first-generation families could learn, grow, and feel supported. After 12 successful years (1989 -2001) as an executive in the emerging cybersecurity industry, she left the tech sector to turn that vision into reality.

Greatly influenced by her coming-of-age experiences in the 60’s and the call to make a difference in the community, Linda launched Salem CyberSpace in 2002 as part of North Shore Community Action Programs which quickly became a second home for local Salem youth. As demand grew and the programs and geography expanded, Salem CyberSpace became an independent nonprofit in 2014 and rebranded as LEAP for Education.