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.


Kimberly Lavallee - Founder, Vice Chairman

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.


Kyle Fox - Treasurer

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 worked most of his professional life in public service with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation,  Merrimack Department of Public Works and currently Westford Public Works.  

Kyle has served on the Board of Trustees for the Founders Academy since August, 2019. Kyle serves as the Chairman of the Parent Committee for Scouts BSA Troop 22 B & G. 

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


Patricia G. Humphrey, M.Ed. - Founder, Secretary

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. 


Frank Weiss

Frank joined the Board of Trustees at Founders in the Summer of 2022.

Frank has more than 35 years of professional experience in high technology product development and executive management.  He is currently Sr. Vice President of Aerospace and Defense for G&H, an international publicly traded photonics technology company headquartered in the U.K.

Throughout his career, Frank has served in roles of increasing responsibility including engineering, product development, general management, and business unit leadership.  He holds a BSEE from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA.

Frank serves as the treasurer of BSA Troop 22 in Amherst, NH.

Frank is passionate about our Nation’s founding, the Constitution and is an avid believer in the principle of Individual Liberty.

Frank resides in Mont Vernon, NH with his family.


John Bauer


Cassie Hayes - Ex Officio

Click to see Cassie's full biography.

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