As a membership organization, NASBE is governed by a board of directors, which includes representation from each of NASBE’s four regions: Northeast, Southern, Central, and Western. New state board members and NASBE affiliates are also represented on NASBE’s board.
Erin D. Benham
Northeastern Area Director
Erin D. Benham was reappointed to the Connecticut State Board of Education by Governor Ned Lamont in January 2023 and serves as the state board’s vice chair. She also chairs the board’s accountability and support committee, and is a member of the academic standards and assessment committee. In June 2020, Ms. Benham was appointed to […]
Christine Benson
Immediate Past Chair
Dr. Christine Benson is a member of the Illinois State Board of Education. She is a retired career educator with 35 years of experience, 17 as a teacher and 18 as an administrator in Illinois public elementary, middle, and high schools. She served as a central office administrator focusing on budget management, curriculum development, and […]
Fern Desjardins
Secretary-Treasurer
Fern Desjardins was nominated to the Maine State Board of Education by former Governor Paul LePage and was confirmed by the Maine Senate in April 2018 for a term of 5 years. She currently serves on the state board’s construction committee and sits on the Maine Charter School Commission. In the past, Desjardins has served […]
Matt W. Donaldson
Southern Area Director
Matt W. Donaldson was appointed as the Twelfth District Representative to the Georgia State Board of Education on January 12, 2021. Donaldson also serves on the board’s Budget Committee, Audit Committee, and State Schools Committee. Donaldson also serves on the Georgia Foundation for Public Education to represent the state board. For NASBE, Donaldson has served […]
Keven Ellis
Chair-elect
Keven Ellis was elected to the Texas State Board of Education in November of 2016 and re-elected in 2020 and 2022. He is currently chair of the board having been appointed to this leadership role by Gov. Greg Abbott on Sept. 16, 2019. The appointment was confirmed by the Texas Senate in a 31-0 vote. […]
McCall Flynn
NCSBEE Representative
McCall Flynn serves as executive director of the Montana Board of Public Education. Prior, Flynn served eight years under Governor Steve Bullock in numerous capacities, such as project manager, policy advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, and education policy advisor. Flynn has worked extensively with legislators and legislative staff, the Office of Public Instruction, members of […]
Patti Gubbels
Central Area Director
Patti was elected to the Nebraska State Board of Education in 2020 after serving for six years on the Norfolk Public Schools Board of Education. She spent 30+ years working in higher education positions before retiring. Her career included teaching education and psychology courses at Northeast Community College, Wayne State College, and the University of […]
Maria A. Gutierrez
Western Area Director
Gutierrez is the longest-serving member of the Guam Education Board. In her 23 years of service, Gutierrez has been a strong advocate for students and families, always ensuring their voices are heard by the board. She was instrumental in creating a seat for a parent and student on the Guam board and for the last […]
Sarah Moore
Chair
Sarah Moore was appointed to the Arkansas State Board of Education in 2018 by Governor Asa Hutchinson to represent Arkansas’ first congressional district. A resident of Stuttgart, Moore taught elementary school in the Stuttgart School District and then worked at the Office for Education Policy at the University of Arkansas. In addition, she has worked […]
Julia (Julie) Pile
New Member Representative
Julia (Julie) Pile, is a member of the Kentucky Board of Education and the new member representative on NASBE’s board of directors. A long-time family and parent engagement advocate, Pile has served in various volunteer and leadership positions with schools in northern Kentucky, including as local PTA president. She was a member of the Boone […]
Stacey Suber-Drake
NCOSEA Representative
Stacey Suber-Drake currently serves as the General Counsel for the Georgia Department of Education. Prior to joining the Georgia Department of Education in 2008, she was a staff attorney in the Northeastern Judicial Circuit in Georgia. She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia. Ms. Suber-Drake […]