The Board of Trustees is made up of The Birches Academy parents and community members. The Board of Trustees is responsible for ensuring that the academic program of The Birches Academy is successful, that the school’s program and operation are faithful to its charter, and that The Birches Academy is a viable, long term, sustainable charter school. The Board meets monthly at the school and the public is always welcome. Additional information is available in The Board of Trustees Bylaws.
August 15, 5:30pm
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Board of Trustees, read the Board Nomination Policy or email trustees@birchesacademy.org.
MEMBERS
Christie Storniolo (Chair and Founder) was raised in Windham NH. She attended Pinkerton Academy and is a graduate of Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management. Christie is a Client Service Manager for ADP Retirement Services in Salem, NH working with companies across the United States. She has been engaged in 401(k) administration since 1992. Christie was a founder of The Birches Academy and served as Board Chair in the inauguration year and now serves on the Finance Committee. Along with her husband Frank and three children, Christie lives in Atkinson, NH.
Christine Miele (Vice Chair & Founder) grew up in Shrewsbury, MA and attended UNH, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree from the Whittemore School of Business. She has worked for Winn Companies for over 20 years as a Property Manager, Computer Software Trainer, and Project Manager. Christine has been on the Board of Trustees since the school began and is currently on the Finance Committee. Her daughter Kathryn and son William both graduated from The Birches Academy and Central Catholic High School. Christine, her husband Christopher, a lifelong resident of Salem and owner of M&M Electrical Supply in Nashua, currently live in Salem.
Alyssa Ross (Secretary) grew up in Arlington, MA, attending the public schools. She holds a BA in government and history from Colby College and an MA in Communication, Culture & Technology from Georgetown University. Alyssa held media internships at ABC News Nightline, 60 Minutes and WCVB before starting her career as a legal assistant in communications law in Washington, DC. Moving to Boston at the height of the .com boom, she worked at PR firms supporting tech companies, before going in-house at French software company Dassault Systemes in 2001 where she’s currently Communications Director. Along with her husband Joe and their 3 boys, Alyssa lives in Windham, NH.
Mike Gendreau (Treasurer) grew up in Dracut, MA, married his wife in 1997 and moved to Pelham, NH in 2000. He attended Mass Bay CC where we received an associate’s degree in automotive science. Mike has been working in residential lending for over 20 years. He is a father of 4 boys who have all either attended or are still attending The Birches Academy since the 2nd year the school opened. Outside of being on the Governing Board and its Finance Committee, Mike is very involved with Birches fundraising and family activities. He is also on the Pelham Conservation Commission, was the secretary of the Pelham Border Riders snowmobile club and coaches his sons in football and baseball. One of the areas he is most interested in is assisting The Birches Academy find a new school location and the financing that goes along with it.
Becca Allan grew up in Needham, MA and attended Boston University where she graduated with a Bachelors in Elementary Education. She moved to Pelham, NH with her husband in the spring of 2014. Before having children Becca worked in special education with students in grades K-5, and she’s . currently a stay at home mom to two daughters. Since spring of 2020, Becca has served as a member of the Windham Cooperative Kindergarten’s executive board where both of her children have attended preschool. She’s also worked at a substitute teacher at the Windham Cooperative throughout the 2021-2022 school year.
Alexis Goldsack is a southern New Hampshire native, born and raised in Hudson, with experienced knowledge of local schools, children and business. She taught at Little Broncos early childhood at Alvirne High School before being hired as an aftercare teacher for the Montessori school in Londonderry. One of those families hired her as their full time nanny when they switched their children to the Birches Academy in 2015 and when she had her first child in 2016 she knew that's where her child would go. After working in office management, she became a real estate agent in 2020 to utilize her business management skills. Her commitment as a parent and a member of this community make her a strong asset to the Board of Trustees.
Debbie Kruzel grew up in Northampton, MA, got a BA in Chemistry at Skidmore College and then worked at MIT for 3 years as a lab technician. She earned her MST at Boston College with a plan of teaching high school biology, but instead returned to MIT where she served as the head lab instructor for Experimental Biology from 1990-2005. In 2000, Debbie and her husband, Ed, moved to Pelham, NH with their two daughters. She left MIT to homeschool her girls, which she did until they entered 9th and 8th grades. (She wishes Charter Schools were around when they were younger!) Debbie and Ed are full time Realtors in MA and NH. They love to be on their 35' sail boat, ski, bike and exercise. Debbie has served a 3 year term as Library Trustee in Pelham and is a Past President and active member of the Greater Salem NH Rotary Club.
Pamela Sarantis grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts and holds a BS/BA in Marketing from Merrimack College. Pam is a Certified Educational Surrogate with the NH Department of Education where she represents children with disabilities who have or may need special education services when there is no one else to fill that role. Prior to that, Pamela was involved in the fitness industry for over 25 years as a Certified Personal Trainer. She served on the board of the Friends of the Library of Windham for 2 years, and held positions as Conference Planner for CFO Magazine, Marketing Manager for The Cumberland Farmers Market and Marketing Manager for Games Magazine. You can often find Pam volunteering at school or at the gym. Her oldest son graduated from The Birches Academy in 2020 and her youngest child is currently in 7th grade at The Birches. Pam lives in Pelham, NH with her husband, 2 sons and her black lab Chief.
Past Meeting Minutes:
