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Ferndale School Board Honored as 2020 Board of Distinction

The Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) has recognized the Ferndale School Board as a 2020 Board of Distinction, marking the eighth time the board has earned the honor since 2012.

The WSSDA annually recognizes school boards for successfully aligning their efforts with the Washington School Board Standards. The program is designed to encourage boards to examine their practices as governing bodies and how their actions and decisions impact the success of students.

The selection process for Boards of Distinction is based on high standards with judges, who include former and current educational service district superintendents, State Board of Education board members, former school directors, and other education leaders in Washington state.

Board of Distinction honors are categorized statewide by small district (1,000 or fewer students), medium district (1,001-9,000 students) and large district (more than 9,000 students). Ferndale was one of 14 medium district school boards recognized statewide, and one of 25 total school boards receiving the Board of Distinction honors.

The Ferndale School Board is composed of members Andrew McLaurin, Dr. Kevin Erickson, Lee Anne Riddle, Melinda Cool, Jessie Deardorff, along with student members Avneet Pannu and Cuong Nguyen. Ferndale School District Superintendent Dr. Linda Quinn serves as Secretary to the Board.

Each year the WSSDA awards program establishes criteria upon which boards will be judged. Ferndale’s nomination highlighted the actions the Board has taken this past year in closing gaps that impact student success. The board also described their efforts to engage local community and represent the values and expectations held for our schools by collaborating with families and community members, responding to diverse interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources.

This year’s awards ceremony at the Washington State School Directors Association’s (WSSDA) Annual Conference will differ slightly from previous years as the conference will be held virtually. On November 19, Ferndale’s school board will be honored along with 24 other Boards of Distinction. The WSSDA press release can be viewed at this link.

To find more information about the Ferndale School Board, please visit www.ferndalesd.org/school-board.