Joe Tragert, President

Joe Tragert has been a resident of Ipswich for the past 30 years. Joe and his wife have a grown son who attended Ipswich elementary and middle school. Joe has a passion for education and learning skills enablement. He is Vice President of Product Strategy for EBSCOed, a division of EBSCO Information Services headquartered here in Ipswich. Joe holds a BA from Boston College, an MA from Georgetown University, an MBA from the Wharton School and a Doctorate in Education from Endicott College.  In addition, Joe is an Adjunct Professor at the Gerrish School of Business at Endicott. Joe was one of the first “new” Feoffees of the Grammar School, where he served seven years as Secretary and helped establish this unique trust for Ipswich Public Schools.

Kristen Johnson, Vice President

Kristen Johnson is passionate about the lifelong impact of education and is committed to increasing awareness of the Ipswich Education Foundation’s mission and the difference it makes for Ipswich teachers and students. She brings more than 20 years of marketing experience and is the Founder of Wise Marketing Strategy, where she helps colleges and education companies develop high-performing marketing teams. Kristen and her husband have a son at Winthrop Elementary School who is active in town sports, including lacrosse, baseball, and ice hockey. She is also a former member of the Winthrop School Council.

Frank Corbin, Treasurer

Frank Corbin has been a resident of Ipswich for 15 years. He is the Director of Music and Business Administrator at Ascension Memorial Church in Ipswich, and a former faculty member of Assumption College in Worcester where he was Director of Music Ministry and Director of the Humanarts concert and arts series for 21 years. A graduate of Oberlin College, Concordia University (Montreal), the University of Cincinnati, and the Eastman School of Music, he brings a deep love of life-long learning and a desire to give back to the community in ways that support the future success of young people on whatever paths they choose to journey.

Ken Swenson, Secretary

Ken has been a resident of Ipswich for 29 years. He and his wife have 3 grown children that all attended Ipswich schools. Ken has served on the Ipswich School Committee subcommittee on athletics for over ten years. He was a long time member and chairman for the last ten years of the Ipswich Select Board’s Athletic Fields Study Committee (AFSC). The AFSC precipitated the IHS Stadium Field project and the town’s acquisition of the Pony Express property. Ken also coached youth football, baseball and lacrosse and served on those boards. Ken is a systems engineer for Applied Materials in Gloucester.