Meeting Link

Charestd@gccs-nh.org

Danielle Charest joined the Board of Trustees in June 2017. She is a proud mom with children ranging in age from 6-to 23.  She has been living in Nashua with her husband, Eric, for 25 years. They currently have a 5th grader and a 1st grader attending Gate City Charter School for the Arts. This is her family’s fifth year in the GCCSA community, and they could not be happier. Danielle has been involved in parent-teacher organizations for over 18 years as her older children have gone through school and have found GCCSA to be the perfect fit for her family. She is proud to be part of the BOT. She is also involved in GCCSA PTO and currently sits on the board as Treasurer. In their free time, her family enjoys volunteering in numerous organizations within the community such as junior actor-singers, NYSL, and PAL Force. Outside of her family and her volunteer hours, Danielle works as a Perinatal Scrub Tech. She is also attending Rivier University to become a Registered Nurse.

Thibeaults@gccs-nh.org

Sarah Thibeault lives with her husband, Julian, stepson, Weston, and daughter, Olive in Nashua, NH. Both herself and her husband come from an arts background and were excited to hear about Gate City Charter School for the Arts and knew this was the school for their daughter. She teaches Sunday School and sits on the financial board of her church in North Chelmsford, MA, where she grew up. Sarah is a certified Sports and Fitness nutrition coach as well as a NASM certified personal trainer. In their free time Sarah and her family volunteer in their church community and try to get active doing yoga or going on nature walks. Sarah loves volunteering at the school and helps in the library and cafeteria and anywhere else she can. She is involved in the PTO and also the PR&COMMUNITY committee. Sarah is excited to be part of Gate City Charter School for the Arts and proud to be serving as the Secretary of the Board of Trustees.

Mahoneyn@gccs-nh.org

Neil graduated with a bachelor’s degree of Science from the University of New Hampshire and holds a Green Belt Six Sigma certificate from Villanova University.  He is employed as the Vice President of Procurement for the last 22 years at Fulfillment America Inc. in Billerica, MA. His roles include account management, purchasing, and scheduling. Neil is the proud parent of three
daughters of which two are currently enrolled at Gate City. The caring and supportive learning environment that Gate City provides is an ideal fit for his daughters’ needs. Neil was raised in Pelham, NH, and his wife, Amanda, has been married for 20 years. He is an avid golfer and most weekends you will find him on the golf course. Neil’s love of golf allowed him the opportunity to run a charity golf tournament for over 10 years to help raise money for cancer research.  When not on the golf course, Neil and his family enjoy game nights, beach days, and spending time with the dachshund, Dash. Neil is excited for the opportunity to be serving the school on the Board of Trustees and welcomes any comments or suggestions.

Cavallog@gccs-nh.org
Grace Cavallo resides in Merrimack with her husband, Steve. They have enjoyed the many gifts of living in New Hampshire these past 14 years including being near one of their daughters and two grandchildren. They have another daughter and two grandchildren who live in NY. Grace comes to the Gate City Charter School with years of experience as an educator and administrator in schools located in the New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire areas. She earned her bachelor’s degree of science and master’s degree of Arts in Elementary Education from Queens College and a second master’s in educational leadership and Instructional Supervision from St. John’s University. Grace has a love of the arts curriculum and has incorporated extensive programs in the Performing and Fine Arts within an interactive and integrated curriculum. She was drawn to become a member of this school community by the school’s mission to “produce graduates who excel in both academics and the arts and have knowledge, creativity and inquisitive nature that foster a life-long love of learning.” Grace enjoys gardening, nature walks, and cooking with her husband. She hopes to be a supportive and active member of the school community.

boutinr@gccs-nh.org

Rebecca Boutin is a young mother of four who lives in Merrimack, New Hampshire. Along with her children, ranging from 3 to 9 years old, she lives with her husband Dylan and two senior parents who she cares for full time. Along with raising a family, Rebecca is running a business as well. 

After having premature twins at a young age, her career of Synchronized Figure Skating and attending the Miami University of Oxford Ohio for Psychology and Natural Medicine had to be put on the back burner. 

An allergy turned into a thriving family business: After years of GI issues, Rebecca and her mother both found out that they suffered from Celiacs Disease. The two struggled to find safe options for them to eat. So, Rebecca’s mother, Debbie, started trying recipes to satisfy cravings. Fast forward to 2011 when the cupcake entrepreneurs came up with the idea of opening a bakery and cafe out of their own home. This is when Bite Me Kupcakes was first born. Word got around town and business soared. Due to overwhelming demand, baking out of their residence was getting to be impossible. In 2017, the duo opened a storefront. 

“Bite Me” was Born: 

The “Bite Me Kupcakez” storefront is a bright pink building filled with happiness for those who struggle to find allergy-friendly baked goods. They are a completely specialized kitchen that is completely dedicated gluten-free, Nut-free, and accommodates many other food allergies. (I.e., Dairy, soy, and vegan options.) Even if you are lucky enough to not suffer from allergies of any kind, their cupcakes and other baked good are to die for. 

From working alongside her mother, Rebecca has grown a passion for the arts of baking and cake decorating while learning the ropes of running a business… all while raising a young family. “Bite Me” is a place where everyone feels valued and included, something their owner strives for. The mental health and well-being of employees is an especially crucial factor to the mother-daughter duo as well. 

Since Debbie has stepped down to enjoy retirement, Rebecca has had to take the reins. She is the owner and head baker/decorator all rolled into one. 

Joining the Gate City Board: 

Rebecca joined the board in 2021 after her twin daughters had attended 1st and 2nd grade at Gate City Charter School. As a young mother and business owner, she felt as though she had a lot to bring to the table; knowledge of leadership and teamwork, as well as the importance of mental health in developing children and teachers alike. Giving the kids a voice in their education is of the utmost importance to one of our newest board members.