We are the bridge between our schools and the community

Elena works in Personnel Operations and Brand Curation for Lawrence-Lynch Corp., where she is a third-generation member of the family business. Her responsibilities range from recruitment, scheduling, special projects, events, employee appreciation and professional development to social media, marketing and community engagement. Elena grew up in Barnstable but has strong ties to Falmouth: her mother’s family planted roots in East Falmouth a couple of centuries ago, coming from the Cape Verde islands to work as farmers; her father’s family established the asphalt and paving business in Falmouth in the 1970s. Elena graduated from Temple University with a degree in strategic communications. She began volunteering with the VIPS Pathways program in 2022 and fell in love with the kids. She says she has a deep appreciation for the fact that although the program is optional, the kids still show up. She says Elena is passionate about making our community a place where everyone has an opportunity to thrive. Elena is also a member of Cape Cod Young Professionals, and serves on the board of Love Live Local, a non-profit dedicated to community and political advocacy on behalf of local businesses to the Cape.

​Kristian is Vice President of Longfellow Design Build. He has a B.S. in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University. He was born and raised in Falmouth and is married to Stephanie Andrade. He has three daughters who all attend Falmouth Public Schools. Kristian’s favorite teacher was Mr. Kelleher who he had for 8th grade history. He credits Mr. Von Hentschel, his industrial arts teacher at FHS, for motivating and encouraging him, and going ‘above and beyond’ for his students. Kristian received the 2019 Prism Award for Most Valuable Team Member for a builder or remodeler.

Chris is a Falmouth native and owner of Chris Mathews Carpentry and Property Maintenance. As both a parent and alumni of Falmouth Public Schools, his mission has always been to give back to the community. Chris has volunteered within the school system for years, reviving and maintaining the high school field hockey and lacrosse fields, providing DJ services at numerous school events, and serving as president of the East Falmouth Elementary School PTO for three consecutive years. Chris received a VIPS Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award in 2017. Chris remains involved in the district by volunteering on school field trips, in the classroom, and at school events.

Tanielle is an assistant BSA (Bank Secrecy Act) Officer for Martha’s Vineyard Bank. She earned her bachelor’s degree in finance from Cambridge College. Tanielle is a Certified BSA and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Professional. She is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. Tanielle has a son who attends North Falmouth Elementary School. She was raised in a family of educators, chefs, and business entrepreneurs. Tanielle has always been passionate about sharing her knowledge and giving back through mentorship and teaching. That passion, she says, led her to volunteer with VIPS where she “helps students understand core financial concepts and career readiness.” Her expertise in banking and business contributes to her strong foundation in financial literacy, compliance, and organizational leadership. Tanielle says she has a “deep appreciation for the power of language and public speaking” and loves to use her voice to “confidently engage with diverse audiences, and to connect, inspire and educate others.”

Kevin is an attorney with Ament Klauer LLP in Falmouth. He earned his B.A. in political science from University of New Hampshire and his J.D. from Suffolk University Law School. He is married to Meghan Klauer and they are parents of three sons and a daughter. Kevin is a past board member of Falmouth Historical Society and Cape Cod Center for Women. Kevin says his favorite teacher was J. Michael Parker, who taught him AP History in his junior year.

Karen is a dedicated educational leader with three decades of experience in public education in roles including classroom teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal, and principal. Currently, she is the K-6 STEM Department Head for Falmouth Public Schools. Throughout her career, Karen has been deeply committed to curriculum development and teacher training. In addition to her work in public education, Karen has served as an Independent Consultant for the Everyday Math Program, supporting school districts in curriculum alignment and implementation. Her expertise in instructional best practices and teacher mentorship has made a lasting impact on educators and students alike. Karen holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Northeastern University, a Teacher Certification from Bridgewater State College, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Providence College. Karen is serving as the Superintendent’s appointment to the VIPS Board.

Judith is a longtime educator and school leader with more than four decades of experience in public and independent education. She served in leadership roles including principal, assistant principal, special education administrator, and curriculum coordinator in schools across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In addition to her work in K–12 education, Judith has taught and mentored future educators at Brandeis University, Framingham State University, Cambridge College, Simmons College, and Boston College. She holds a C.A.S. in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard University, an M.Ed. from Smith College, and a B.A. in English from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. A dedicated community volunteer and mentor, Kelly continues to support students, teachers, and school leaders through tutoring, mentoring, and educational service work on Cape Cod.

Paul is a retired administrator and consultant with over 35 years of experience in the field of education. He has served as a teacher, high school principal and superintendent of schools. Additionally, Paul has presented at multiple state and national conferences and is the past president of the Massachusetts School Administrators Association and the Blackstone Valley Education Foundation and is currently a member of both organizations. He was also named Massachusetts State Principal of the Year. Paul continues to mentor new principals and evaluate schools in New England through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. When Paul and his wife Pat moved to North Falmouth upon retirement, he became involved in volunteer activities in the Falmouth school district with the College Mentoring Program. He also enjoys leading tours as a docent at WHOI both in person and via Zoom. He has two children and two grandchildren who especially enjoy Old Silver Beach.

Sue grew up in Falmouth and graduated FHS in 1977. Sue’s parents ran a Main Street pharmacy for many years before her father became the Harbormaster and her mother was the pharmacist at Falmouth Hospital. Sue graduated with a BS from University of Rhode Island and worked in high tech for 16 years. She then founded her own marketing consulting company and ran that for 25 years before retiring. She spends most of her time in West Falmouth but also resides in Walpole. Sue was instrumental in getting the VIPS Pathways Program started. She also served as an academic coach during the pandemic, working virtually with a student during the days of virtual school. Sue is mentor to a FHS senior who she has been with since freshman year. Sue has served on the board of Beyond Book Smart, an executive function coaching company helping students and adults with ADHD and other learning and working challenges. She has served as a mentor and advisory board member for the Cape Cod chapter of E for All, a nonprofit that helps people start businesses. Sue is also involved with VIPS financial literacy initiatives at FHS. Sue is a strong advocate for VIPS and the impacts its programs have on the students and the community.

Michael spent his 40-year professional career in training and development, IT, manufacturing, finance and retail. He held leadership positions in the private sector, including Boston Scientific and as a Manager for Employee Education Programs at Mass General Hospital. Michael’s focus is developing people and helping them succeed. During this period, he also performed some classroom teaching. Michael earned his MBA from Babson College and a BA in Management from UMass Boston. Michael has been a mentor in the Falmouth VIPS College Mentoring Program for the last six years. For the past three years, he has served on the Cape Cod Foundation’s scholarship committee. Prior to moving to the Cape, Michael served on the School Committee in Millis and was a classroom aide for several years supporting ESL learners as part of the non-profit Cape Cod Literacy Council where he was also a Board Member. Michael recently co-led the NAMI Family to Family course. Michael believes that education and being prepared for opportunity, as it arises, is critical to individual success. He welcomes the chance to serve his community as a VIPS board member.

Akku is the owner of Jack in the Beanstalk. He is married to Denisha Patel; they have a daughter Anya, who is at Lawrence School, and an Australian labradoodle named Peanut. Akku has lived in Falmouth since 2003 when he purchased the Main Street 711. He says he fell in love with the town when he first visited in 2002 and enjoys the “tight knit community where a lot of people help each other out.” Akku is a member of the Falmouth Rod & Gun Club where he also serves as security chair, and the Masonic Lodge. Akku received the Retailers Initiative Award from 711. He attended NJCU for computer science and is certified in both MCSE and UNIX admin. His favorite teacher was Mrs. Hennessey at Dickinson High School in Jersey City, NJ.

Margaret is a Professor Emerita at SUNY Empire State College in New York where she taught in the Department of Social Theory, Social Structure and Change, Community and Human Services. She earned her BA from Annhurst College, her MSW from Wayne State, an MA from New York University, and a PhD from New York University. Margaret serves as the Falmouth School Committee representative to the VIPS board and has served on the school committee since 2022 and currently serves as secretary. Margaret is a member of the Falmouth Newcomers Club.