ALEXANDRIA, Virginia — The National Association of State Boards of Education has announced the election of seven new members to its board of directors during its annual conference last month in Omaha. Fern Desjardins, a resident of St. Agatha, Maine, was elected as the board’s new state board member representative.
“NASBE’s board of directors plays an important role in helping the organization achieve its mission of developing, supporting, and empowering state boards to fully embrace their role as citizen leaders,” said NASBE President and CEO Robert Hull. “We are delighted to have Fern’s fresh perspective as a new state board member on the board.
He added, “She joins board members who are committed to NASBE’s strategic direction. Their combined decades of experience will help ensure the organization’s sustainability for years to come as an organization led by members in response to members’ needs.”
Desjardins was nominated to the Maine State Board of Education by former Gov. Paul LePage and was confirmed by the Maine Senate in April 2018 for a term of five years. She serves on the state board’s construction committee and sits on the Maine Charter School Commission. In the past, Desjardins has served on accreditation teams for institutions of higher education, the Math Standards Review Steering Committee, Chapter 125 Ad Hoc Committee, and several other ad hoc committees on the state board.
“I look forward to working with and learning from other state board members throughout the United States to strengthen our public education system, so all students are prepared to succeed in school, work, and life,” stated Desjardins on joining NASBE’s board of directors.
Desjardins holds a doctorate in educational leadership and a master’s in language arts from University of Maine, a certificate of advanced studies in educational leadership from the University of Southern Maine, and a B.S. in elementary education from the University of Maine at Fort Kent.
“I am very honored to join NASBE’s board of directors. I feel truly blessed to have this opportunity to work at the national level on educational matters that impact our students,” she said.
“Many of our local educational concerns are also statewide and nationwide concerns. It is amazing what we have in common. I am extremely fortunate to work with colleagues who share the passion that I have for education,” Desjardins said. “Together, we can and will make a difference for all our students.”
