Mill Falls Charter School: Board of Trustees

Greg DePasse (Chair) studied Electrical Engineering at Boston University while participating in the Air Force ROTC program. After college he spent 4 years in the Air Force as a Communication and Computer Systems Officer at Hanscom AFB in Massachusetts. Greg went on to work as a Project Manager building out a global voice and data network for a startup called Cignal Global Communications, based in Cambridge, MA. A few years later, when Cignal was acquired by Priority Telecom (a division of Liberty Media), Greg was selected as a core team member and transferred to the company’s Amsterdam headquarters where he and his wife Debbie lived for nearly 3 years. Upon returning to the US, Greg and Debbie settled in Londonderry, NH to raise a family. Greg returned to Hanscom as a civilian working as a Project Manager in Enterprise Networking and Data Center deployments. He later worked as an On-Site Engineer for Dell Computers providing pre and post sales engineering expertise to their Enterprise customers. For the past 2 1/2 years Greg has worked for Three Wire Systems as a Sales Engineer. There he works with customers to determine their business problems and identify individualized solutions. Greg has received 3 father of the year awards and he cherishes each (1 from each of his favorite children). Two of his children attended Mill Falls during their elementary school years. He lives with his wife and three children in Londonderry.

Heather Marr, Vice Chair, is Director of Marketing for Southern New Hampshire University’s campus and has been with SNHU for over 7 years. During her time with the University, she has held a variety of roles from admission and product marketing for their online programs to her focus now on their campus experience and students. Before her time at SNHU Heather worked at the Manchester School of Technology in the Careers in Education program working with High school students who were learning and teaching in an active preschool, it was truly the best of both worlds! Heather holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts from the University of New Hampshire and a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from Southern New Hampshire University.  In another lifetime, Heather was a dance instructor educating students in multiple studios across NH and MA. Heather, her husband Peter, and two children Camden and Ellie, have proudly lived in Manchester for the past 17 years where they enjoy all the city has to offer. Camden is a MFCS alumni who is now enrolled in Manchester’s Central High School. Along with all her other accomplishments, Heather is the proud dog mom to the most interesting dogs in the world, Murray and Macho, who you’ll find “guarding” the neighborhood from all delivery persons and squirrels.

Jeffrey C. Trombley, Treasurer, is a CPA with a Masters Degree in Accounting from Southern New Hampshire University and a Bachelors Degree in Business from Mt. Washington College. In January of 2019, he joined the Manchester-based accounting firm, Karr & Boucher. Previously he ran his own shop, Trombley Tax & Accounting, after he served as a Senior Accountant at Penchansky & Co. Jeff’s accounting strengths lie in handling more complex tax issues. He has represented various entities in front of the Internal Revenue Service and is experienced in the preparation of Federal and State returns for corporations, small businesses, trusts and Individuals. Jeff also has experience in the audit and attestation services for local businesses and non-profits. Professionally, Jeff thrives on the personal interaction involved in supporting his clients as he works to assist them in meeting their goals and objectives. When not at the office, Jeff loves being outdoors with his dog Riggs and spending time with family. He and his wife, Marlana and their young son, along with Riggs, live in Manchester’s north end.

Sara Bee Pichette, CPWA®, Secretary, is a Business Development Senior Associate at Impax Asset Management in Portsmouth, NH. While she is a New Hampshire native, she ventured west to pursue her Bachelor’s in Psychology at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Sara has worked in the Financial Services Industry for her entire career, working for Transamerica, BlackRock and Merrill Lynch before moving to Impax. Sara enjoys working with and empowering Manchester’s youth and also serves on the Board of Directors of the Manchester Police Athletic League and coaches a girls lacrosse team with the Boys and Girls Club of Manchester. She leads the Greater Manchester Women’s Business League and is active with New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility, Queen City Rotary and Women in Sales NH. Sara lives in Manchester with her husband and their young daughter. Sara loves skiing, live music and Lake Winnipesaukee.

Hind Bashier was born in Saudi Arabia where she lived through her elementary school years. Her family moved to Sudan where she completed high school, and then she moved to The Netherlands to attend university. For three years, she focused on medical lab studies. She was strongly advised to move to America to complete this work in English, and so she moved to the Boston area. But as life would have it, her studies were put on hold once she and her husband welcomed their first child. They moved to NH, where she completed her certification as a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA). She worked as an LNA until the birth of her youngest child a few years ago. Hind currently teaches Arabic and the Islamic Society of NH (ISNH) in Manchester. She also serves as the Vice President and Secretary on the board of Donate to Education, a NH-based non profit which raises funds to build schools in Sudan. The organizations is working closely with the Minister of Education in Sudan at this time to partner in this important work. Hind lives with her husband and three children in Manchester, NH and has been an active and very generous member of our Mill Falls Community since our earliest days. Her oldest son joined us in Kindergarten, and is now entering 8th grade, her middle son is in our Upper Elementary Program and her youngest will join us in another year or so.

Naomi Butterfield is Legal Counsel for Merrimack County. Formerly, Naomi served as the first General Counsel for the Community College System of New Hampshire and as an education and employment lawyer at the private firm of Bernstein Shur, Sawyer, and Nelson. Naomi also serves on the Board of the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, the Human Resource Association of Greater Concord, and the Amoskeag Rowing Club. A long time rower and former US Rowing Team member, Naomi loves to row, kayak, hike, bike, knit and go for long runs with her three legged dog, Luna. Naomi served as our Board Chair from the fall of 2018-2020. Naomi lives with her husband, Jack and her twin daughters in Concord, NH.

*Currently on Leave* Jill Connors (past Chair), has been the Assistant Principal and Special Education Coordinator of North Elementary School in Londonderry since 2010. In 2016, she was awarded the NH Assistant Principal of the Year. Jill graduated from Salve Regina University with a degree in Elementary and Special Education, has dual certification in Elementary and Special Education and is a highly qualified teacher in Mathematics and English. Jill previously served as Londonderry’s Acting Coordinator of Pupil Services, which gave her experience at all levels. She has been an active participant in Strategic Planning initiatives, supervision and evaluation of staff and budgeting. Earlier in her education career, Jill was a Case Manager and Special Education teacher at Londonderry Middle School for seven years where she distinguished herself as an outstanding teacher including mentoring new teachers and piloting their co-teaching model at LMS. Jill lives in Manchester with her husband and two children.

Garth Corriveau is an attorney at Craig, Deachman & Associates, PLLC in Manchester, dedicating his legal practice largely to business law and real estate law. He graduated from Middlebury College (B.A. 2000) and the University of New Hampshire’s Franklin Pierce School of Law (J.D. & M.I.P. 2004). Garth is an active community leader in Manchester. In addition to serving MFCS as a Trustee, he volunteers as a youth coach for the Manchester North Soccer League and Manchester North Hooksett Little League. Garth served three terms as a Manchester Alderman representing Ward 6 from 2010 to 2016. He was an elected delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention and has held several leadership positions for political organizations and campaigns at the presidential, federal, state and city levels. The son of two high school English teachers, Garth is an educator himself. He has worked as an Adjunct Professor at Southern New Hampshire University since 2014 primarily teaching Business Law to MBA students. Garth is a proud MFCS parent residing in Manchester with his wife, Kate, and their 4 children.

Danielle Dalton is a Curriculum Designer at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and has been with the university since 2013. Danielle graduated from SNHU with a dual degree in psychology and communications and went on to get her Masters in Higher Education Administration.  Danielle’s career in higher education has included academic advising, career services, leadership and curriculum development. More than ever, Danielle sees the connection needed between K-12 spaces and higher education and seeks opportunities to bridge gaps. Outside of her work in education, Danielle volunteers for organizations that seek to diminish food and housing insecurity around New Hampshire. Danielle lives in Concord with her labradoodle, Brody where they enjoy finding trails to hike and new places to explore.

Amy Hollingworth studied exercise science and athletic training at Ithaca College, before completing a post-professional residency program in 2000. Early in her career, she worked in various athletic training settings in the Greater Manchester area, from out-patient rehabilitation, collegiate, semi-professional, and secondary schools. For over a decade, Amy worked as the Head Athletic Trainer and Health Officer at Manchester’s Trinity High School, where she was active in the school community teaching physical education and classes, as well as serving as a campus activity advisor. In 2013, Amy joined NH Musculoskeletal Institute’s leadership team as Program and Residency Director before being promoted to Executive Director in 2020. Throughout her professional career, Amy has been committed to expanding both her own knowledge and that of the athletic training community. She has been an author on several published research abstracts and articles, and has delivered various presentations at the local, regional, and national levels. Amy was recognized for her contributions to the profession with the 2017 New Hampshire Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. Amy has also earned a Degree in Nursing, Certificate in Massage Therapy, and served on the State of New Hampshire’s Athletic Trainers Governing Board. Amy served on the Greater Manchester Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors from 2001 to 2012. She is passionate about supporting the youth of our community, and for nearly 25 years, her focus has been in keeping kids safe and well cared for physically and emotionally as they strive to reach their full potential. Amy is an active member of Kiwanis of Manchester and a participant in 2022-23 Leadership Greater Manchester. Amy and her husband live in Bedford with their daughter who is a Mill Falls Student.

Meryl Levin, Executive Director, is a founder of Mill Falls and served as the School’s Founding Board Chair beginning in March of 2011 when the school received its approval from the NH Board of Education. In December 2015, after two earlier stints as an interim school leader, Meryl was selected by the school’s Trustees to serve as the Executive Director. Meryl has spoken widely on behalf of Mill Falls to legislators in Concord, on education and community panels, and as a 2013 TEDx speaker, among other venues. She is an alumnus of the Leadership New Hampshire Class of 2013 and served as Co-Chair of the Don’t Wait. Educate campaign, a 2016 initiative of Save the Children’s Action Network to bring public pre-k to Manchester. For the previous 20+ years, Meryl worked as a social documentary photographer with a focus on health, social welfare, and political engagement. She is the author of two monographs, editor of several publications, and curator of several group exhibitions. She has guest lectured at colleges and universities around the country, and has received several grants and fellowships in support of her work. She attended Trinity College in Hartford, CT, and completed her undergraduate degree, at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She taught at The School of Visual Arts in NYC for seven years, until moving to NH where she was an adjunct professor at Southern New Hampshire University teaching visual storytelling for seven years, and was deeply involved in the Service Learning Initiative there. She lives in Manchester, NH with her husband, Will Kanteres and their son, a Mill Falls Alum.

Laura Wrubleski has served as Mill Falls’ educational leader since its founding in 2012 and brings a wealth of experience and expertise as she enters her seventeenth year in education. She is state certified in NH and MA in both Elementary Education and Special Education. Laura obtained her Masters of Education in Literacy Studies from the University of Wisconsin Madison, and her undergraduate bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from Keene State College. Laura taught in a variety of special education settings before completing her Montessori certification in Lower Elementary I at the Seacoast Center for Education. She taught for four years at Hill View Montessori Charter Public School aligning core curriculum standards to the Montessori environment. She also facilitated many mentor activities throughout the school. Laura was the first employee hired at Mill Falls and has helped envision, shape and lead our educational program from the start. Laura and her husband live with their two children in Manchester, NH.

Past Board Members:
Donna Talbot, Trustee, Vice Chair, Secretary, August 2019 – January 2022.
McCeil Johnson, Trustee, September 2015 – September 2021.
Peter Marr, Trustee, Vice Chair Sept 2018 – September 2020. 
Mindy Kacavas, Trustee, November 2015 – September 2019.
Michelle Roberge, Treasurer February 2014 – October 2019.
Melissa Brough, Trustee, March 2016 – September 2019
Jody Wilhelm, Trustee December 2017 – April 2018.
Roland Martin, Trustee 2014 – May 2016; Board Chair, June 2016 – September 2017.
Kate Callahan, Board Chair, February 2014 – May 2016; Founding Trustee, April 2011 – January 2014.
Sue Champagne, Trustee, December 2013 – September 2016.
Dr. Trinidad Tellez, Founding Trustee, April 2011 – April 2016.
Dr. Sally Ward, Secretary, October 2012 – April 2015; Board Chair from May 2015 – September 2015.
Jonnie Lyn Evans, Trustee, November 2011 – December 2013.
Bryan Bouchard, Treasurer, September 2012 – June 2015.

Mill Falls Charter School Founders

Note: The list of Founders includes those noted above in the School Board Trustees list as well as the following individuals:

Elise D. Annunziata (served on the MFCS Board of Trustees from April 2011 – May 2012)
Claudia Barrett
Christina D’Allesandro (served as Vice Chair on the MFCS Board of Trustees from March 2011 – July 2012)
Therese ‘Terri’ Giovagnoli
Teresa ‘Terrie’ Harris
Alicia Harressey (served on the MFCS Board of Trustees from September 2011 – August 2014)
Jessica Wachsman (served as Treasurer on the MFCS Board of Trustees from March 2011 – December 2012)
Dianne Martin (served on the MFCS Board of Trustees from March – October 2011)
Liz Purnell
Shannon Sullivan