Swampscott's Linda Saris retires after 4 decades of service to youth

Saris, the longtime executive director of LEAP for Education, has spent the last two decades building programs that connect students to careers, mentors, and opportunities.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 6:44pm

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After more than four decades in Swampscott, Linda Saris is retiring from her role as the longtime executive director of LEAP for Education, a Salem-based nonprofit focused on youth development. Saris has spent the last two decades building programs that connect students to careers, mentors, and opportunities they might not otherwise have, with a focus on career exploration and work-based learning.

Why it matters

Saris' retirement marks the end of an era for LEAP for Education, which has become a vital resource for students in Salem and Lynn, providing them with structured programming and opportunities they may not have access to otherwise. Her work has helped countless young people identify their talents and find pathways to turn those talents into meaningful careers.

The details

Saris first came to Swampscott in 1981 not for a job, but for the water - she and her husband were looking for a town on the coast where they could moor a boat and have access to good schools. Over the next four decades, Saris' impact stretched far beyond the shoreline as she built LEAP for Education into a comprehensive youth development program. Initially, Saris worked with Salem Cyberspace, a small internet cafe-type space that offered computer access and basic training, which quickly evolved into a program focused on project-based learning and career exploration. Saris rebranded the organization to LEAP for Education, an acronym for 'Learn, Explore, Aspire, Pursue', and has since helped countless students identify their talents and find pathways to turn those talents into careers.

  • Saris first came to Swampscott in 1981.
  • Saris began working with Salem Cyberspace in the early 2000s.
  • Saris rebranded the organization to LEAP for Education at some point.
  • Saris is retiring from her role as executive director of LEAP for Education in June 2026.

The players

Linda Saris

The longtime executive director of LEAP for Education, a Salem-based nonprofit focused on youth development. Saris has spent the last two decades building programs that connect students to careers, mentors, and opportunities they might not otherwise have.

LEAP for Education

A Salem-based nonprofit focused on youth development, with a focus on career exploration and work-based learning programs for middle and high school students in Salem and Lynn.

Salem Cyberspace

A small internet cafe-type space that offered computer access and basic training, which Saris initially worked with before it evolved into the comprehensive LEAP for Education program.

Manny Cruz

A former participant in LEAP for Education programs who has gone on to become an elected official in Massachusetts' 7th District.

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What they’re saying

“Talent is everywhere. Every student has a talent. Opportunity is not. So part of what we're doing is helping kids figure out what they're good at and then showing them what pathways exist to turn that into a career.”

— Linda Saris, Executive Director, LEAP for Education

“In the early days, I not only knew the kids; I knew their parents — there was that amazing connection. As we grew, I got more pulled into the administrative side and a little more separated from the kids, and that's something I really miss.”

— Linda Saris, Executive Director, LEAP for Education

What’s next

Saris is looking ahead to what comes next, with plans to travel, focus on fitness, and eventually return to the hands-on work of mentoring students that first drew her to this field.

The takeaway

Saris' retirement marks the end of an era for LEAP for Education, but her legacy will live on in the countless young people she has helped identify their talents and find pathways to meaningful careers. Her commitment to providing opportunity to underserved youth has made a lasting impact on the communities of Salem and Lynn.