Board of Trustees

The Founders Academy Board of Trustees

If you have any questions or concerns for the Board or any of its members, please send them to [email protected].  

Robert Best - Board Chairman

Robert Best (Bob) is an attorney and partner at Sulloway & Hollis in Concord, where he serves as chair of the firm’s healthcare practice group. Bob has extensive experience advising non-profit organizations including hospitals, professional societies, trade groups, and charitable organizations. Bob is an Adjunct faculty member at NHTI in Concord, he is the Chair of the Merrimack Planning Board, the Vice President of the Merrimack Rotary Club, and served as a board member of Merrimack PTA Kindergarten and Preschool.  

Prior to coming to New Hampshire, Bob’s background includes experience in administration for public, private, and academic healthcare settings, as well as biomedical research at Louisiana State University Medical Center, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Bob and his wife Kate live in southern New Hampshire, with their four children.


Patricia G. Humphrey, M.Ed. - Founder, Vice Chairman

Patricia Humphrey is a devoted supporter of the public charter school movement and has offered much of her life to this cause. She is the Founder of the New Hampshire Center for Innovative School (NHCIS) and a Founder of the Academy for Science and Design (ASD) in Nashua.

Patricia is an experienced school administrator, educator, and board director. She has taught K-8 in New York City and in New Hampshire, and has directed a unique, independent school in New York City. Patty has extensive experience with public policy and fund-raising. 


Kimberly Lavallee - Founder

Kimberly Lavallee is an active supporter of the Public Charter School movement. She is a Co-Founder of The Founders Academy Public Charter School and Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies. Mrs. Lavallee currently serves as a board member of both charter schools. She currently serves as Chair of The Founders Academy Foundation. 

Kimberly’s professional background is in the commercial and residential real-estate industry where she worked for 23 years in the appraisal field, managing approximately 50 appraisers throughout three states. She worked as a professional fundraiser for a national non-profit as well.


Barbara Comtois - Treasurer

Barbara Comtois is a farmer, accountant with a BSBA from Northeastern University, and a former homeschooling mom who is a strong advocate for school choice. She brings to the table over 25 years in corporate accounting in a range of industries. Her strengths are implementing controls to ensure accurate reporting, cost saving measures, and improved time management.

As a farmer, Ms. Comtois advocates both in her community and at the state level, for better laws ensuring New Hampshire’s agricultural advantage. Working with her sons raising sheep, pigs, and chickens, Barbara is also an avid supporter and grower of hydroponic produce since 2004.

As a homeschooling mom, Ms. Comtois has taught her children the value of understanding our history and the importance of being involved in their community. Whether through fundraisers held on the farm or outside activities which included robotics, snowboarding programs, and field trips with other students, Ms. Comtois has demonstrated her love of state, community, and family.


Scott Perron - Secretary

Scott Perron is a Senior Vice President at Bank of America and responsible for creating curriculum for the initial training and on-boarding programs for all positions in the financial center channel.  Prior to this position, he served as a market manager responsible for the successful operation of 53 financial centers in Southwest Florida. He also has previous experience as Director of European and North American operations for a software company that serves the entertainment and athletic industries supporting the marketing and ticketing functions. 

Scott has a passion for the arts and has extensive performance background in musical theatre and choreography. He also is an alumnus of Up With People, whose mission is to empower young people to be positive agents of change for a more hopeful, trusting and peaceful world through music and action. 

Scott, along with his husband and two children, reside in Manchester and are a licensed resource family for DCYF. They also have a passion for serving our community by supporting New Horizons and Manchester Animal Shelter at volunteer activities. They are thrilled to have their oldest son attending Founders Academy as of 2019. 


Susan Lawton

Mrs. Lawton is the parent of a 9th grade student at Founders Academy, and a 4th grader at Strong Foundations Charter School. They were one of the original families at Founders. She is a project manager with exceptional leadership, analytical and interpersonal skills and a proven capacity to drive innovation and change through project management and relationship building. Demonstrated success at directing multiple projects, while managing interdependencies and developing contingency plans. Exceptional communication skills with a unique ability to translate complex concepts and ideas to technical and non-technical audiences.  Track record for meeting deliverable dates, budgets and SLAs.


Kyle Fox

Kyle Fox received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1993.  He is a registered Professional Civil Engineer in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Kyle has spent most of his professional life in public service, first with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation and for the last 15 years with Merrimack Department of Public Works.  

He has served in different roles with the town including Operations Manager, Town Engineer, and currently the Public Works Director. Kyle serves on the Board of Trustees for the Founders Academy, Founders Foundation and the New Hampshire Charter School Foundation. Kyle serves as the Chairman of the Parent Committee for Boy Scout Troop 22. 

A lifelong New Hampshire resident, Kyle lives with his wife and son in Amherst, New Hampshire. 


Cassie Hayes - Ex Officio

Click to see Cassie's full biography.


Jane Cormier - Ex Officio Faculty Member of the School Board

Click to see Jane's full biography.
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