School Board Recognition Month has been celebrated during January for the last 26 years. It represents a time to recognize our elected community members who selflessly give their time and energy in support of public schooling for our youth. Their collaboration as a team and with school district staff, as well as their governance and advocacy, help build the future of education.

The Ferndale School Board was recognized at the school board meeting on Tuesday, January 26. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance recited by a special guest, Gideon Carillo, who is a 5th grade student at Cascadia. According to his principal, Mrs. Parsons, Gideon is an incredible singer, extremely patriotic and takes his jobs very seriously. One of his jobs at Cascadia has been to lead his classmates in the Pledge of Allegiance. Several weeks ago, Gideon retired from his job of saying the pledge but we are happy to say that Gideon agreed to come out of retirement to lead the Pledge of Allegiance in honor of School Board Appreciation Month. Thank you, Gideon!

The Board continued to be delighted by video presentations of students in action including Skyline 4th Graders in Ms. Bianco's music class, a sneak peak of Ferndale High School's upcoming play Little Women and a video of Central's 5th grade students expressing their appreciation to the School Board. Also present on the screen was special guest City Council member Erin Gunter who presented words of appreciation to the School Board from the City.

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