Meet Our Board of Directors
Guiding The Dewey School with purpose, passion, and a shared belief in the power of childhood.
The Dewey School is supported by a dedicated Board of Directors who help guide our organization, support our long-term vision, and ensure that our school continues to grow and thrive.Together, our board brings leadership, experience, community connection, and a shared commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for children to learn through play, exploration, curiosity, and connection with the natural world.
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.
Kate Baker Demers
is the Executive Director of Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire (CSF) and was the first to implement the New Hampshire Education Tax Credit Scholarships and the New Hampshire Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) managed by Kate, and the team, at CSF. Under Kate’s leadership, CSF New Hampshire, grew to be a nationally recognized scholarship program that has awarded more than $17 million in private school and homeschool scholarships and 12,500 Education Freedom Accounts to New Hampshire children in need. Kate’s mission is improving children’s lives. She is passionate about innovative teaching and learning, and expanding educational opportunities. Kate served as the Chairman of the Polaris Charter School Board of Trustees. She is a member the Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities NH, and is an appointee of Governor Sununu to the Council for Thriving Children. Kate was honored to be recognized by the New Hampshire Union Leader and the NH Business and Industry Association as a “40 Under Forty, the state's brightest young achievers ″. She remains a leader in the Granite State’s education freedom movement and toward that aim has worked tirelessly for more two decades on behalf of New Hampshire children.
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.
Our Board
Rooted in Purpose
Our Board of Directors plays an important role beyond the day-to-day operations of the school. The board provides governance, financial oversight, strategic guidance, advocacy, and support for the continued development of The Dewey School.
As a nonprofit organization, we believe strong leadership begins with a shared commitment to our mission and a willingness to thoughtfully steward the community we have built together.
Our board works alongside our educators, families, and community partners to help ensure that The Dewey School remains a place where children can learn deeply, play freely, explore boldly, and grow in wonder.
A Community That Grows Together
The Dewey School is more than a school.It is a community of children, educators, families, and supporters who believe that childhood deserves time, connection, curiosity, and wonder.
Our Board of Directors is honored to help protect and grow that vision for the children and families who are part of Dewey today and for those who will join us in the years ahead.
Rooted in nature. Guided by wonder. Growing together.
