The Salem Academy Board of Trustees is the legal governing body of the school. The Board is held accountable to the public and ensures that the school’s academic program is successful, that the school is faithful to the terms of its charter, and that it is organizationally viable. With these ends in mind, the Board is responsible for determining the school’s mission and vision; managing its property and assets; recruiting, supporting, and evaluating the Executive Director; continually developing the Board; setting effective policies; and, ensuring the school’s legal compliance and fiscal health.

Lisa Jacobowitz – Board Chair

Ms. Jacobowitz is a Salem resident and parent with over 20 years of experience as a practicing lawyer. She currently works as a partner of the North Shore based law firm Gilmore and Jacobowitz. She has extensive governance experience, including having held leadership positions on a variety of non-profit boards. Among others, Ms. Jacobowitz has served on the Boards of the United Way of the Central North Shore, Project Rap, Health & Education Services, Inc. (HES), and the Beverly Chamber of Commerce. In addition, she has been involved in the Salem Public school system since 1998, serving as an officer of the Parent Teacher Council, publishing the school’s monthly newsletter, presenting for the Junior Achievement program, serving on hiring committees and helping to provide enrichment and fundraising opportunities to benefit the Horace Mann Elementary School. She was a member of the Founding Board of Salem Academy Charter School. She holds a J.D. from the Vermont Law School and a B.A. from New York University.

Mark Meche – Chair of Facilities Committee

Mr. Meche is a registered architect as well as owner and co-founder of Winter Street Architects, located in downtown Salem. He is an active member of Salem’s volunteer community, formerly serving as President of the Salem Main Street Initiative Downtown Program, as a member of the Executive Committee of the Salem Partnership, and as a Board member of the Salem Chamber of Commerce. A Salem resident and parent of two children, Mr. Meche has been honored for his active service to the community. He was named Business Man of the Year by Salem Chamber of Commerce in 2002, received the Salem Volunteer Service Award in 2001, and the Chamber’s “Anchored in Salem Award” in 1999.

Patricia W. Newhall-Chair of Educational Outcomes Committee

Ms. Newhall is an English teacher and the Associate Director of the Landmark School Outreach Program, which is dedicated to empowering students with language-based learning disabilities by providing professional development opportunities for their teachers. She holds a Master of Arts degree in English from Boston College, and a Master of Science degree in Special Education from Simmons College. She has taught literature and writing at the secondary school level since 1987, and has lectured and taught seminars on topics related to learning disabilities since 1995.

Walter Stevenson “Steve” Palmer-Vice-Chair and Chair of Finance Committee

Mr. Palmer currently works as Manager, Marketing and Merchandising, for Varian, Inc. where he is responsible for all Marketing Communications activities relating to the vacuum technologies business in North America; he has been in this role for six years. He has been with Varian for 17 years in a variety of marketing and operations roles. Steve is a deacon and past chairman of the Standing Committee of The First Church in Salem. He is a resident of Salem where he and his wife, Katherine, moved in 1987. Together, the Palmers are the very proud parents of Alison and Hannah (grades 10 and 7, respectively) at SACS. Mr. Palmer is also an active member of the School/ Family/ Community Team at Salem Academy. He has a B.Sc. in Economics from Northeastern University, 1987, and attended McGill University previously.

John Jermyn- Chair of Trusteeship Committee

Mr. Jermyn is a lifelong resident of Salem where he currently resides with his wife Cheryl (who serves as the SFC co-moderator) and their two children who are Salem Academy students. John has been employed with American Express for the past 15 years where he has held a variety of positions, most recently as the Manager of Global Supplier Relations. He is a graduate of Salem State College and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Service. He is also a graduate of North Shore Community College with an Associate Degree in Aviation Science. John holds a current Massachusetts General Contractors license and served as the general contractor overseeing construction of the recently completed Norman H. Read Science Discover Center at Salem Academy. John has served as a crisis counselor for Project Rap as well as provided volunteer assistance to the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.  He has also coached for both the Salem Youth Soccer league and the Salem Little League for several years. He is a long term member of the Salem Willows Yacht Club and holds a commercial pilot license.