My name is Lori Hayes (Gisetto), and I've called Reading home since 2011 – 15 wonderful years raising my family in this vibrant and welcoming community. As a Town Meeting Member in Precinct 8 for the past four years, I've been deeply engaged in our community and our schools. Now, I'm ready to bring that dedication directly to the School Committee to support every student's success in the Reading Public Schools.

My husband Scott and I have been married for nearly 20 years. Our son Alex is a senior at RMHS, where he's thrived in football, track, and more – he's headed to Bentley University this fall. Our daughter Keira is a sophomore at RMHS, active in soccer, track, and clubs. Both attended Birch Meadow Elementary, Coolidge Middle School, and RMHS, giving me 15 years of firsthand involvement in our district – from chaperoning field trips to serving as prop master for school musicals and helping organize events that raised thousands for our schools. I was especially honored to manage the Class of 2026 silent auction, as part of the 2022 Parent Social, and to be a parent liaison for 2025 girls' JV soccer team.

The Hayes Family

I'm a fierce advocate for literacy and evidence-based education. I served on the "Reading in Reading" Literacy Committee as a parent representative, helping to bring a new Science of Reading curriculum to grades K–3 with a $2M ARPA investment. I've donated hundreds of carefully curated books to our elementary, middle, and high schools – over 420 free books – working directly with teachers and librarians to ensure students have the resources they need.

Professionally, I worked 34 years in the medical and pharmaceutical industry, where I led complex projects in a matrixed team environment, managed large budgets, and drove results in areas such as gene therapy for pediatric patients with rare diseases and oncology. That experience in strategic planning, risk management, and cross-functional leadership will help me approach School Committee decisions with fiscal responsibility, data-driven focus, and a commitment to what works best for our kids.

I retired in 2021, post COVID, to focus on the well-being of my children, but that quickly extended to reaching so many more beyond my own. In retirement, I help at-risk and developmentally challenged children to find balance and confidence through therapeutic riding and herd maintenance at Ironstone Farm. I advocate for lifelong reading by collecting used books (700+), donating them to schools and local library book sales, and being an enthusiastic library book sale volunteer, boosting library funding in part to support creative children’s activities. I’ve devoted countless hours to civic engagement and community outreach. I see opportunities to give back, and I take action.

My background blends Midwestern values, Southern hospitality, Yankee ingenuity, and the self-reliance I learned growing up with a hardworking single mom. It’s this acknowledgement of the importance of personal responsibility that I feel is one of the greatest gifts we can give to our children.  

I'm running for School Committee because I believe every child deserves the best opportunities to read, learn, and grow – in a safe, equitable, and high-quality learning environment. I will listen to the needs of the community and work collaboratively to support teachers, prioritize student well-being and academic excellence, and ensure our resources are used effectively.

I'm committed to keeping Reading Public Schools strong for all of our students — "Every Child, Every Chance”.

I'd be honored to earn your support and your vote on or before April 7, 2026 — let's do this together, Reading!