About Us

The Concord Trust for the Enhancement of Public Education, a non-profit organization established in 1997, provides grants to fund innovative projects that enhance the educational experience in public schools in Concord, New Hampshire.  Each year, The Concord Trust funds a variety of creative educational projects based upon grant requests made by Concord teachers, administrators, and staff.

The Concord Trust makes a difference in Concord’s public schools by encouraging innovation and collaboration. Several pilot programs initially funded by Concord Trust grants have been incorporated into the Concord School District curriculum. All of Concord’s schools have applied for and received grants from the Trust. Since its inception, the Trust has awarded grants totaling over $300,000. The Concord Trust for the Enhancement of Public Education is independent from the Concord School District, but works in collaboration with the Concord School Board and administration to ensure that grants complement the curriculum and facilities. The Trust is administered by a volunteer board of trustees and has no paid staff.

Mission

To promote and support innovation and enhance the public educational experience in the Concord School District by securing and granting funds to projects that strengthen public education.

Board Members

Kayla Page

Kayla Page

Chair

Trustee: 2/2019 to 6/2026

Kayla Page joined the Concord Trust in 2017. Though employment in academia was not an intended career goal, Kayla has been fortunate to call SNHU home for the last 6 years. A life-long New-Englander, she comes to the board with almost 15 years of experience in the field of social work in a variety of settings including public education and family services. Kayla is thrilled to be part of an organization that supports public education.

Kristin O’Connor

Kristin O’Connor

Treasurer

Trustee: 12/2012 to 6/2023

Kristin O’Connor joined the Concord Trust in 2012. Kristin is excited to help out with the education of our students here in Concord. Being active at her children’s schools has always been important and becoming a board member for The Concord Trust seems like just the right fit. She has received the Point of Light recognition from Beaver Meadow twice and also the Champion for children award for her volunteer work at Beaver Meadow. Kristin is a mother of two and has been working as a Consultant for AAC, Inc. since 1998.

Tina Annis

Tina Annis

Secretary

Trustee: 9/2016 to 6/2025

Tina Annis joined the Concord Trust in 2016. She has two children who attend Concord public schools.  Tina is a New Hampshire native and has been practicing law for over fifteen years.  She owns her own law firm, Annis & Zellers PLLC in Concord, and works in the area of Trusts and Estates.  She is a frequent speaker in the community about estate planning issues.  Tina is pleased to be a part of the Concord Trust organization and excited about fostering innovative ideas in the classroom.

Ashlyn Hiley

Ashlyn Hiley

Trustee: 9/2010 to 6/2024

Ashlyn Hiley has 2 children who attend Concord Public Schools.  She is an active school volunteer, both in and out of the classroom. Ashlyn has a Masters in Social Work and focused her practice on therapy with young adults. Originally from New York, she moved to Concord with her family in 2005. She is thrilled to play a part in fostering innovation in Concord schools and loves to visit the schools to witness grants in action.

Adam Lesser

Adam Lesser

Trustee: 9/2009 to 6/2023

Adam Lesser joined the Trust in 2015. Adam has one child who attends Beaver Meadow School and a toddler who will attend soon. He taught for and directed environmental and outdoor education programs in New England, Michigan, and upstate New York before moving to Concord in 2005 to attend law school. He currently assists Boston-area law firms with litigation discovery.

Pam Wicks

Pam Wicks

Trustee: 9/2016 to 6/2025

Pam Wicks joined the Concord Trust in 2016.  Pam moved to Concord, NH with her husband and 3 boys in 2011.  That Fall, when her oldest began Kindergarten at the old Dame School, she began volunteering with the school PTA.  She is currently serving on the PTA Board at both Mill Brook and Broken Ground schools, and will begin her 3 year term on the Concord School Board on January 3, 2017.  She is looking forward to working with the Trust and the School Board to bring innovative learning opportunities to the students of Concord Public Schools.

Nancy Keane

Nancy Keane

Trustee: 9/2018 to 6/2024

Nancy Keane joined the Trust in 2018. She has lived in Concord for 29 years and has had two children go through the Concord Schools. Recently retired from Rundlett Middle School (RMS), Nancy is excited to serve on the Concord Trust whose mission is to support Concord teachers. She received seven Concord Trust grants during her years at RMS and joining the Board is a natural extension of her love of educational innovation and technology use for learning.  After her retirement from RMS, Nancy served as a Museum Educator at the New Hampshire Historical Society. She volunteers in local museums and is currently writing another book.

Kristen Zaffini

Kristen Zaffini

Trustee: 11/2019 to 6/2025

Kristen Zaffini joined the Concord Trust in 2019. She is a graduate of Concord High School and moved back to Concord in 2004 where she currently lives with her husband and two daughters. Her children both attend Concord public schools and she thoroughly enjoys volunteering in their schools as much as possible. She worked for many years in the technology industry before transitioning to the financial services industry and currently works as a Paraplanner at a local financial services firm. Kristen is very excited to be working with the Trust to bring new and innovative ideas to the schools.

Jillian Poole

Jillian Poole

Trustee: 09/2022 to 6/2026

Jillian Poole joined the Concord Trust in 2022. 

Previous Board Members

  1. Maria Manus Painchaud (1997, founding member)
  2. Douglas Hicks (1997, founding member)
  3. Charles Leahy (1997, founding member)
  4. James Miliken (1997, founding member)
  5. Thomas O’Connor (1997, founding member)
  6. Jodi Sturgeon (1997, founding member)
  7. Christine Boezeman (1997-2004)
  8. Valerie Riley (1997-2004)
  9. Tara Reardon (pre-2002)
  10. Pam Smith (pre-2002)
  11. Susan Schoenfeld (pre-2002)
  12. Jeff Zellers (pre-2002)
  13. Gayle Braley (pre-2002)
  14. Lisa Sands (2004) Vice Chair
  15. Gena Cohen Moses (2004)
  16. Bob Cummings (2004)
  17. Ellen Koenig (2003) Chair
  18. Steven Winer (2003) Secretary
  19. Cynthia Rouvalis (2003) Treasurer
  20. Pat Lang (2003) Vice Chair, Treasurer
  21. Chris Teague (2003)
  22. Val Perkins (2003)
  23. Clint Cogswell (2006-2015)
  24. Janna Cummings (2006)
  25. Connie Boyles Lane (2006-2012) Secretary
  26. Doug McNutt (2005)
  27. Maureen Redmond-Scura (2005-2014) Chair
  28. Susan Sokul (2006)
  29. Beth Vignati (2006-2011)
  30. Patty Creedon (2007-2013) Treasurer
  31. Charles Willing (2009-2012)
  32. Leslie Joyner (2011-2017) Secretary
  33. Harriet Kraybill (2012-2018) Chair, Vice Chair
  34. Karen McClellan (2010-2016) Vice Chair
  35. Andrea Golding (2012-2013)
  36. Jane Berlin Pauley (2012-2013)
  37. Matt Newland (2012-2012)
  38. Kristin Phillips (2013-2015)
  39. Jeffrey Shaw (2009-2013)
  40. Susan Zimmermann (2014-2017)
  41. Roger Brooks (2010-2019)
  42. Jenn Eggers (2011-2019)
  43. Liza Dube (2019)
  44. Alyssa Huntington-Martin (2019 – 2021)
  45. Julianne Gadoury (2019 – 2021)
  46. Susan Reynolds (2015 – 2022)
  47. Jen Walton (2017 – 2022)
  48. Hallie Pentheny (2021 – 2022)