Board of Trustees
Nathaniel Peirce GP’28 & ’32
Chair
Nathaniel has served as Head of School: East Woods School (Oyster Bay, NY 2015-2017), St. Andrew’s Episcopal Middle School (Jackson, MS 1996-2002), Norfolk Academy (Norfolk, VA 1995-1996), Friends Academy (North Dartmouth, MA 1992-1995), Chapin School (Princeton, NJ 1987-1992), St. Paul’s Middle School (Baltimore, MD 1980-1987). Nat is also a grandparent to two of our current Well School students.
Hillary Irwin p’29 & ‘32
Vice Chair
Hillary is a western transplant to New Hampshire. She earned her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Utah and worked as a senior research scientist for several multinational pharmaceutical companies in the United States, France, and Germany where she developed robotic technologies for antibody based drug discovery. She has a sustained interest in the education and support of girls in math and the sciences. Hillary has previously served on the boards of the Harrisville Children's Center and the Monadnock Conservancy.
Hillary has three children, two current students and one future Well school student, her husband is a Well School alumnus, and her mother-in-law taught at the school during the 80's and 90's. Hillary lives in Dublin with her family where she enjoys traveling (with and without the family), deadlifting, and reading classic literature.
Christina Madden P’24
TREASURER
Chris moved to New Hampshire from New York in 2021. With a strong commitment to child welfare, Chris began her law career prosecuting child abuse and neglect cases in Queens, NY. Over the years, her career path changed, but her involvement in child advocacy remained constant through leadership positions in various education (both public and private) and child welfare organizations.
Chris and her husband live in Hancock. They have four children: two sons in college, a son at Dublin School and a daughter in 8th grade at The Well. In addition to serving on The Well School board, Chris is the editor/publisher of Hancock Happenings.
Steven Hahn
SECRETARY
Steven Hahn has served as the Head of School at Lawrence Academy (Groton, MA 1984-2003), Hamden Hall (Hamden, CT 2004-2005), Portledge School (Locust Valley, NY 2006-2012) and has been a member of the Hillsboro-Deering School Board (1974-1980, 2014-2019).
Prior to his headships, Steve was an administrator, math teacher, and basketball coach at The Derryfield School and in the 1970s he was a director of Interlocken Crossroads, designing and implementing experiential student-travel programs domestically and internationally. He and his wife, Trim, a former elementary school principal, now live in Peterborough. Their granddaughter, Chloe, participated in Well School summer programs.
LISA BARNES ‘76
Lisa is a Human Resources consultant specializing in not-for-profit, start-up, and small business concerns. She is currently on the board of directors and VP of Outreach for the New England chapter of JDRF, and on the leadership team for S.T.O.P. (Students Together Opposing Prejudice), a nationally recognized seven-week program for 6th through 12th graders. Lisa teaches Adaptive (wheelchair) tennis to children at the Longfellow Clubs and was the director of the Sudbury Teen Center, an after school program for middle school children. Previously, she taught life skills through tennis to an underserved community on O'ahu and also served on the board of the Hawai'i Arts Alliance and SHRM HI chapter (society for human resource management).
A 1976 graduate of The Well School, Lisa, older brother Gregg, and their mother, Katy Barnes, joined The Well community in 1968 as Lisa and Gregg began first and third grade. Katy taught first grade and Kindergarten at The Well for the next 17 years. After starting her college career with a focus on early childhood development, Lisa received her B.A. in Sports Psychology from UNH, where she raced for the alpine ski team. Lisa lives with her husband in Natick, MA, and spends time at a family home in Hancock.
Tod VoN Mertens ‘86, P’16, ‘21 & ‘28
Colin Murdough P’26 & ‘30
LARRY HADDOCK ‘78
Larry Haddock is a small business consultant and private equity investor specializing in renewable energy and intellectual property. Larry is the founder of Newport Energy Resources and is a partner in Enceladus Development. He is also one of the three principals of TriState Ventures, the leading NYC angel investor group. Before starting his own companies, he spent 22 years on Wall Street at various investment banks including Smith Barney and Shearson Lehman Brothers.
Larry attended The Well School from 1969 until graduating in 1978. Both of his brothers Joe and Raphy attended the Well School and Libby Haddock, his mother, started the preschool and kindergarten programs and fostered the animal husbandry program from 1969 until 1980. He received a BA in literature from University of New Hampshire. Larry lives with his wife Emmi in Harrisville.
JESSICA QUINN P’30
Jessica Quinn is currently the CEO of the Putnam Foundation and the 1911 Office. Jessica has over 20 years of non-profit and fundraising experience, and has served in a number of leadership roles for non-profit organizations, including as the Executive Director of Civic Hall, a non-profit collaborative community center in New York City that advances the use of technology for the public good; the CEO of NY Tech Alliance, a non-profit organization supporting New York’s growing technology community; and the CEO of Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council in Southern California. She is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources and as a Certified Fundraising Executive.
Jessica grew up in Francestown and now lives in Hancock with her family. In addition to serving as a Well School Trustee, Jessica is a member of the MacDowell Community Committee and serves on a number of committees in Hancock including the Recreation Committee (Chair), Telecommunications Committee (member), and Old Home Day Committee (Co-Chair). Jessica also co-manages the Hancock Farmers Market.
STEVE SALISBURY
Stephen is a lifelong New Englander having grown up in Rhode Island and earning a Bachelor of
Science Degree in Education from Rhode Island College in Providence. His teaching career began in Colchester, Connecticut and transitioned to the New London Public School System in New London, Connecticut for nearly twenty years. During his tenure in New London, Stephen earned a Master’s Degree in Special Education and a Sixth Year Degree in Educational Administration. He coached athletics for several years and was the director of the alternative school program. Stephen concluded his time in New London as the Dean of Students at New London High School when he was appointed Principal of Lyman Memorial High School in Lebanon, Connecticut. He retired after thirteen years as Principal and a total of thirty-three years of service in Connecticut Public Schools.
Stephen was granted and accepted a position as a long-term substitute at The Well from November 2022 through April 2023. This was a great opportunity that provided an understanding of the Well Schools’ philosophy and program. Stephen currently resides in Peterborough, New Hampshire with his wife Wendy.