Staff

Welcome
Circle of Hope Staff



Lesley Shear
Co-founder, Executive Director, and Head Instructor

Lesley was certified as a therapeutic riding instructor by PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) in 1995 and is currently an adviser for all PATH publications. Lesley is a graduate of Pine Manor College and Tulane University. She taught therapeutic riding at the National Center for Therapeutic Riding for six years before co-founding Circle of Hope. Lesley has been teaching therapeutic riding for over 25 years. 



Heidi Weber 
Instructor

Heidi is a graduate of Sacramento City College with an A.S. and is a Physical Therapy Assistant. Heidi began her therapeutic riding career as an instructor with Saddle Pals Therapeutic Center in Sacramento, CA. in 1994 and became the director of Operations in 1997. Heidi was certified as a Therapeutic Riding Instructor by the PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) in 1997. In 2002, she began volunteering for Circle of Hope and in the fall of 2005, she joined the staff as an instructor. Heidi is a licensed PTA in Maryland. 





Maggie Reed 
Director of Outreach and Fundraising

Maggie graduated from University of Maryland Baltimore County with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and has been volunteering with Circle of Hope since spring 2015. In addition to planning fundraisers, Maggie has also spent time updating our website, and helping us move forward technologically by assisting with our social media accounts, and finding ways to reach out and connect with volunteers, donors, and participants.