Board of Trustees

Our Board

The Board of Trustees comprises educators, BACS parents, and community member. The Board of Trustees is responsible for ensuring that the academic program of Breakthrough Academy is successful, that the school’s program and operation are faithful to its charter, and that Breakthrough Academy is a viable, long-term, sustainable charter school. The Board meets monthly, currently via zoom; the public is always welcome.

Board Meeting 2-19-2026

33 Lamplighter Park, North Conway NH 4:00 PM

Meet the Team

Below are our current Board Members. This section is still in progress for role, photo, and bio.

Voting Member

Maryellen Osborne

Maryellen Osborne is a grandmother who helped homeschool her two youngest daughters and her four grandchildren. She does many projects and serves on other boards. Maryellen took early education classes while in high school. She loves cooking from scratch. She is excited to help the charter school in any way that she can.

Voting Member

Christina Littlefield

Christina Littlefield has been a public school teacher for 34 years; 1 year as a 7th grade and high school math teacher in Vermont, and the balance as a K-5 teacher in Maine, teaching at Denmark School, New Suncook, Snow School, and Molly Ockett. She earned a Bachelor of Education at the University of Vermont with math and special education endorsements, a Master of Education at the University of New England in Education, as well as CAGS certification of advanced graduate studies in literacy. She is certified to teach K-5 elementary, K-8 special education, and K-8 literacy. Mrs. Littlefield created a program called ABLE (Agricultural Based Learning Education) program for her fourth graders the last 7 years of her public teaching. This program created by her, incorporated the standards all around the theme of Agriculture, teaching to children at all abilities in her fourth grade classroom. Outside of public school teaching, Mrs. Littlefield has been a 4-H leader for 15 years, and is the owner of Springmont Farm with her husband, Brad, raising pigs, market hogs, chickens, beef animals, meat birds, bees, vegetables, and gladiolus. She is also the Assistant Superintendent of the Fryeburg Fair Swine Barn. Christina Littlefield lives in Fryeburg, Maine with her husband Brad, dog Remi and has a son Kyle who lives at the farm in Fryeburg.

Voting Member

Eric Penniman

Dr. Eric Penniman has worked in education for over 18 years. He holds his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University as well as two master’s degrees in School Psychology and Mental Health Counseling. Eric has published works on special education as well as IDEA policy and the effects on student achievement. Throughout his time in education Eric has been a huge advocate for student needs and supports. When not working with students Eric enjoys spending time with his wife Sarah, and three sons Nolan, Finley and August.

Secretary

Jillian Goldstein

Jill Goldstein, M.Ed., Ph.D. Candidate and Secretary of the Board joins the BACS with a decade of experience in special education.

Throughout her near 10 year career in the classroom, she has worked in substantially separate and inclusion models in both urban and suburban settings at the severe and moderate levels for grades 5-12. Jill offers expertise in the areas of co-teaching, universally designed learning (UDL), executive functioning, promoting student independence and self advocacy, and the IEP evaluation process. She accepted her current role of Special Education Coordinator and Educational Team Lead at Stoneham High School in August of 2023.

Native to Massachusetts, she received her bachelors of science degree from the University of New England and Master of Education in Moderate Disabilities from Salem State University. She is currently in the process of fulfilling the dissertation requirements (Working Title: “The Impact of the Co-Teaching Model on Special Education Teacher Resiliency and Retention”) for her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University.

In addition to education, Jill is an avid volleyball player and has competed at the local, regional, and national level as a 4-time captain of a USAV Open Volleyball Championship team. In her spare time she enjoys running, video games, reading, and long walks with her dog, Minnie.

Treasurer

Tiffany Manjarrez

Tiffany has an MBA with a minor in accounting. She is currently employed in the Finance Department at the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce where her primary responsibilities are managing cash flow and grant management. She spends her free time as an advocate for children in the foster care system.

Vice Chair

Christina Whitney

Christina Whitney is a lifelong Conway resident and active community volunteer with a strong dedication to public service. Currently serving as the president of the board of directors for BBVC, she brings leadership experience, a collaborative spirit, and a deep understanding of the community's needs. Passionate about creating opportunities for all students, Christina is committed to fostering transparent communication, academic excellence, and inclusive decision-making on the school board.

Chair

Joann Aubuchont

Single mom of four beautiful children, three were adopted through the foster care system in the state of NH. As a single mom I put myself through college where I earned an associate's degree in Early Childhood, a bachelor's degree in Child and Family Studies, and a master's of science in Education with specializations in special education and early childhood education. I've worked in the education field for the past 25 years. When my girls are not showing cows, pigs, and goats with their 4-H family, we enjoy camping and going on adventures together and making memories to last a life time.