Leadership
Kate Erskine, Director
Kate is a Manchester native and returned to her home in 2000 to begin work with Breakthrough Manchester. After graduating from Wellesley College with a B.A. in Environmental Studies, Kate was an AmeriCorps Learn & Serve member for one year, and she taught elementary and middle school science in Quito, Ecuador for three years. In addition to working with a great team in the Breakthrough office, she has responsibilities to The Derryfield School, teaching 7th grade Spanish, advising upper school students, and serving on various administrative and Board of Trustees committees. Kate loves Latin dancing, especially salsa.
Trevor Munhall, Assistant Director
Trevor joined the Breakthrough Manchester team in 2004, bringing his experience as a former Breakthrough summer teacher and as the Assistant Director of the Breakthrough program in Minneapolis. Trevor also teaches English and advises students at The Derryfield School. He received his degree in English Teaching at the University of New Hampshire and has pursued further studies in multicultural education, leadership, community building, and social change. Trevor has lived in nine different cities and is an avid reader, writer, and photographer, and loves being outdoors.
Bernadette Robinson, Student & Family Services Coordinator
Bernadette has been a member of the Breakthrough Manchester team since 2000. She graduated in 1983 from Springfield College with a degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. In her career, her primary work has been with school aged youth and their families in a wide variety of settings. Previously, she was employed by The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester as part of their crisis intervention unit and then with their family and community support team. As the Breakthrough Student and Family Services Coordinator, Bernadette works with the program directors, schools, and families to provide support for students who have non-academic issues that interfere with their progress toward academic success. A longtime Manchester resident, Bernadette has two sons, both of whom are Breakthrough graduates.
Tina White, High School Coordinator & Administrative Assistant
Tina began working at Breakthrough Manchester in the summer of 2004. She brings a wealth of knowledge of the challenges facing students pursuing higher education in the Manchester city schools from her previous experience as an AmeriCorps*VISTA and as the Admissions Recruiter at the New Hampshire Community Technical College in Manchester. Tina grew up in Annandale, Virginia and graduated from Brown University with a degree in Human Biology. She served one year as an Outdoor Education Instructor for a co-curricular program in Michigan before moving to New Hampshire. Tina coaches Derryfield’s cross country and girls’ lacrosse teams, and she is a ski instructor during the winter months.
Laura Noyes Zahn, Development Associate
Laura began writing grant proposals for Breakthrough Manchester in 2006, drawing on her transformative experiences as a former Breakthrough Manchester teacher, Mentor Teacher, and Breakthrough Sacramento Director. Laura is an alumna of The Derryfield School and has a bachelor's degree in English and Humanities, as well as master's degrees in Liberal Studies and Educational Administration. A former middle and high school English teacher, middle school vice principal, and interim principal, Laura is grateful for the opportunity to work part-time to support an organization she loves, while raising her children, Susanna and Roy.
