Berwick Academy, Maine’s oldest independent school, has taken a significant step toward its long-term financial sustainability and institutional strength with the appointment of Lynda Casarella as its Chief Financial Officer. The announcement follows a successful six-month engagement facilitated by NBOA Advisory Services, during which Casarella served as Interim CFO.

Scott Erickson, Head of School at Berwick Academy, emphasized the importance of this appointment during a pivotal leadership transition: “Strong financial leadership is essential for success at independent schools, particularly in achieving goals related to long-term sustainability and investing resources in students, programs, and teachers. All of this is possible largely as a result of an effective collaboration among the board, head of school, and the chief financial officer.”

Erickson, who began his tenure as Head of School in Summer 2025, noted the critical role NBOA Advisory Services played in guiding Berwick through a period of unexpected change:

“NBOA Advisory Services was an important partner to Berwick Academy during my transition. They helped us quickly identify an Interim CFO in the weeks leading up to my arrival, which was necessary due to the unanticipated departure of the Academy’s previous financial leader. Lynda Casarella’s first day on the job was the same as mine. She was quickly able to elevate confidence in our well-planned and intentional headship transition thanks to her experience, expertise, and background in strong financial leadership. Without NBOA’s involvement, it would have been unlikely to identify someone of Lynda’s caliber so quickly.”

Following her interim service, Casarella’s seamless integration and impact led the Academy to extend her role into a permanent appointment as CFO. Her leadership is already helping to shape the school’s next chapter with clarity and confidence.

“I am grateful to be joining Berwick Academy and inspired to collaborate with Scott, the team, and the community to steward the school’s mission and contribute to its continued growth and impact,” said Casarella. “As a native of Wells, Maine, I have long been familiar with Berwick Academy and am especially pleased to be returning to the area.”

With deep expertise in financial operations and independent school leadership, Casarella is poised to be a key strategic partner as Berwick builds on its legacy of educational excellence.

Erickson shared his optimism for the future: “We are excited that Lynda has now joined the Berwick team as CFO after completing her six-month engagement through NBOA. We look forward to continuing our work with her as a strategic thought partner in strengthening Berwick’s long-term financial sustainability. I am grateful to NBOA Advisory Services for making a positive contribution to my transition into this exciting new role.”

If your school is seeking interim or permanent financial leadership, NBOA Advisory Services offers customized search support to help you find the right fit—when it matters most.