Meet Our Board of Trustees

Beth holds a BS in Business Administration from Merrimack College.  She has 30+ years experience in various aspects of business including Budgeting, Marketing and Project Management.  She is currently an Accounting Administrator at Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan in Bedford.

Beth is a big proponent of Mental Health and Special Education.  She is currently a volunteer Special Education Advocate with PIC-Parent’s Information Center in Concord and a member of NAMI-NH, the New Hampshire chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Health.

Beth has lived in Derry for over 20 years with her husband and 3 children, all of whom have attended school in the Derry School District.  One of her children is a 2021 graduate of Next Charter School and her youngest is currently a Next student.

E-mail: beth.carrasquillo@nextcharterschool.org

Joe earned a B.S. in Elementary Education with a minor in History from Boston University and a M. Ed. in Educational Administration from the University of New Hampshire. Joe was part of the team that founded Next Charter School. He served as a director from 2013-2022. Before working at Next, Joe was a teacher and assistant principal at Gilbert H. Hood Middle School, in Derry. Joe grew up in the community and currently lives in Derry with his family. Joe, his wife Christine, and their son, Jackson, all attended Derry’s schools.

E-mail: jcrawford@sau10.org

Isobel Graves is an alumni of Next Charter School and continues to be a happy member of the local community. She is always up for a hike, a trip to the ocean, a cuppa tea, or a good conversation. She plays music as often as she’s able, most recently supporting Pizzastock and the JRF Memorial bringing awareness to mental health and suicide prevention. She is in the process of becoming a welder and will receive her certificate in 2022.

E-mail: igraves@nextcharterschool.org

Kirsten Kortz holds a MA in Child Development from Tufts University, and a PhD in Education from the University of New Hampshire. She is the Director of Academic Policy, Curriculum, and Assessment at Northern Essex Community College. She teaches Psychology as an adjunct in the Early College program, which helps keep her in touch with the needs, goals, and challenges of high school students. Previously, she worked as the Education Director at the now-closed Quarrybrook Experiential Education Center in Windham where she got to know the students and teachers of Next. She is excited to grow that relationship by participating on this Board. Kirsten lives in Hampstead with her husband, two dogs, and two cats. She is an active member of the Greater Derry Track Club, with whom she spends many nights and weekends roaming the streets of Derry in brightly colored clothing.

E-mail: kkortz@nextcharterschool.org

E-mail: jlague@nextcharterschool.org

Paul has long been involved in the community and schools. He served as a police officer for 30 years, retiring as a lieutenant from the Derry Police Department. He then taught in the Derry School District for 17 years retiring as a career and technology education teacher. He has served as a scout leader, coached middle school cross country and track and worked to organized events for the Special Olympics.  Currently he serves as vicar and presiding minister at St. Paul Lutheran Church. He hold a master’s degree in education from Cambridge College and a Master in Divinity from Andover-Newton Theological School.

E-mail: plutz@sau10.org

Kerry is a consultant in accounting, finance, and audit. She loves to go into different companies and meet new people, learn new skills, and help find solutions! Her son is a junior at NEXT and her appreciation for NEXT grows every year. She hopes to contribute to such a wonderful school.

Owen Provencher is the director at DerryCAM – Derry Community Access Media. He is also the president of the New Hampshire Coalition of Community Media. Leading community media engagement across the State of NH. 

In his current role and throughout his training, education and career, Owen has worked hard to drive community and culture by using innovations in technology and the Arts as a means of expression, exploration, and connectivity. When not at work, Owen spends his time seeking out his ideal hobby.