Meet Our Board
James Marino, Chairman
grew up on a small farm in Dunbarton. A resident of Canterbury for 10 years, he had never visited Shaker Village until his youngest son was enrolled in the Dewey School. It was love at first sight. James' fondness for the Dewey School's approach to learning, nature-based curriculum, and community-building, have made he and his family regular visitors of both the Dewey School and Shaker Village. James has worked in the financial industry for more than twenty years, but also takes great interest in the creative arts. He earned an MFA in fiction writing 10 years ago, and has since taught English Composition and Public Speaking at Southern New Hampshire University
William Tappan, Treasurer
a New Hampshire native, lover of forests and the symbiotic relationship between them and humanity. The Dewey School represents the type of school he envisioned when contemplating how to improve the learning experience for children when serving on a local school board. He was educated at UNH, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Liverpool. That education was used to enlighten and enrich his life and allow him to earn a living working in consulting and management. Bill served in the US Army where he met his interesting wife, and together they have been loving, learning, discussing ideas, serving others, traveling, and raising two good men.
Cheryl Newcombe
is a business owner who lives in Canterbury with her rescue animals. Her passion for animals and nature began at an early age while working next to her grandfather on his farm in Hingham, MA She has been teaching kinder-church for children ages 3 – 5 for over 20 years, and especially loves this age group. Cheryl has sat on previous boards and wants to use her experience to help advance the mission of The Dewey School.
Susan Holden Martin
has more than a decade of experience as a college educator teaching both undergraduate and graduate students at several New Hampshire universities and colleges. She has worked on business school accreditation and teaches (and occasionally designs) a variety of business management courses. She is a trained mediator and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Dispute Settlement Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In addition, Susan serves as a business consultant to the Florida Technology Council and as a non-fiction manuscript editor for BookPress Publishing. In addition to education, Susan's interests also include the exploration and settlement of outer space. She has 17 years of management experience with a variety of non-profit space advocacy organizations. Susan looks forward to helping The Dewey School serve its mission with distinction.
Carol Stone
has been a Canterbury resident for 6 years. She comes to the Dewey School Board with over 30 years of Early Childhood teaching experience. She was the director of a small preschool in Nashua for 8 years. Her passion for young children and their families drives her work at the Family Resource Center of Central New Hampshire, in Laconia and will also drive her work on this board. She has a strong sense of community, a love of nature and education and for historical sites. Carol and her husband, Alan, have raised 3 great children and now live with a house and yard full of animals! She looks forward to working with Alexis and the other board members to help the Dewey School continue to serve children and families in its amazing capacity.
Join Us
Are you passionate about education, nature, and community? The Dewey School—a nature-based preschool located at historic Canterbury Shaker Village—is seeking new members for our Board of Directors.
At The Dewey School, children learn and grow through exploration of the natural world, fostering curiosity, creativity, and respect for the environment. Help guide the future of this unique educational community!
Board Member Responsibilities:
- Provide governance and strategic direction
- Oversee financial health and sustainability
- Support fundraising and community partnerships
- Contribute professional skills and expertise
- Attend regular board meetings and school events
Interested in supporting nature-based education and historic preservation?
Contact James Marino at havenhillwriter@gmail.com to learn more or express your interest.
