The Northwest Educational Service District Board of Directors
ESD’s are legally governed by an elected board of directors. The NWESD board of directors consists of nine uncompensated citizen volunteers who are elected by the school board members of our region’s 35 public school districts. The board members represent nine different geographic areas of the NWESD region across Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties. The NWESD board is responsible for NWESD policy, governance, and approval of the budget and staffing. The NWESD Board also hires and supervises our superintendent, who is also advised by our regional school district superintendents.
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Kelly Bashaw
District 1
School Districts Represented: Bellingham*, Burlington-Edison, Meridian
Kelly served 16 years on the Bellingham School Board. She works at Whatcom Community College as the Associate Director for Academic Advising and Career Services. |
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Dr. Jack Thompson
District 2
School Districts Represented: Anacortes, Blaine, Ferndale, Lopez, Oak Harbor, Orcas Island, San Juan Island, Shaw Island
Jack is a retired educator/administrator from Renton, Ferndale, and Snohomish school districts as well as Seattle University and Saint Martin’s University. |
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Mark Venn
District 3
School Districts Represented: Bellingham*, Conway, La Conner, Lynden, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Nooksack Valley, Sedro-Woolley
Mark is the former superintendent for the Sedro-Woolley School District and has volunteered for numerous non-profit organizations in the region. |
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Oscar Escalante
District 4
School Districts Represented: Coupeville, Everett*, Lakewood, Mukilteo*, South Whidbey, Stanwood-Camano
Oscar is a veteran of the US Navy. He is a Licenced Mental Health Counselor and holds various mental health credentials. As a bilingual speaker of English and Spanish, he brings a broad understanding of multicultural issues as well as the role culture plays in the formation of young adult patterns of behavior. |
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Dr. Alan Erickson
District 5
School District Represented: Everett*, Marysville
Dr. Erickson maintains a sleep apnea treatment practice in Arlington. |
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Cory Duskin
District 6
School Districts Represented: Arlington, Concrete, Darrington, Granite Falls, Index, Monroe, Snohomish*, Sultan
Cory owns and manages Arlington Pharmacy, Stilly Coffee House, and Arlington Copy Mail & More. |
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Ann McMurray
District 7
School Districts Represented: Edmonds*, Mukilteo*
Ann has volunteered and participated in public education for over 30 years. |
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Sue Phillips
District 8
School Districts Represented: Edmonds*, Mukilteo*
Sue is an early learning advocate and a former school board director from the Edmonds School District. |
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Merle Kirkley
District 9
School Districts Represented: Everett*, Lake Stevens, Snohomish*
Merle is a retired marketing vice president for the Charles Beresford Company. He is also a former Snohomish School District board member and employee. |
*Partial representation
