Oak Harbor Public Schools board members don’t put on their nametags every other Monday night and coast through the school board meetings.
Rather, they live the role 24/7. They visit with students, volunteer in classrooms, and attend school events.
“This board doesn’t wait for people to come to them. They’re talking about our schools with people at the gym, the grocery store, or with their mail carrier,” said Dr. Michelle Kuss-Cybula, Oak Harbor Public Schools superintendent.
“Our board members are connectors. They know that students are all of our responsibility,” she added.
Oak Harbor Public Schools is WSSDA’s 2025 Board of the Year – Medium District.
This was the first time OHPS had applied to the Board of Distinction program. Lynn Goebel, board president, said they had discussed the award in recent years. After studying award criteria during last summer’s board retreat, they decided they were ready to apply.
One reason for the confidence was the district’s robust new strategic plan.
“We didn’t really have an active strategic plan when I joined the board,” Goebel said. “I knew we needed one as a tool for conversations and to showcase how we’re doing.”
When board members attended the 2022 WSSDA Annual Conference with their new superintendent Kuss-Cybula, they left with a clear collective charge: we need a new strategic plan.
Planning Started by Listening to Students
The input and framework for the strategic plan began with student voices. The district asked every student two questions: 1.) What are two or three things a staff member says or does that make you feel like you belong or don’t belong? 2.) Describe your ideal classroom. What supports or detracts from your learning?
Clear themes of inclusion and academic challenge emerged. Then, the conversation expanded to families, staff, and community partners. With the collective input, the strategic plan was built on the core values of academic excellence, inclusion and belonging, and collaboration.
Four foundations are the roots of the strategic plan. They address 1.) specific goals that promote strong teaching and learning systems; 2.) strong family and community partnerships; 3.) strong fiscal integrity and state-of-the-art facilities; and 4.) a strong culture of inclusion, safety, and belonging.
Applying those goals and values to the student perspective, the strategic plan includes a Vision of the Student Experience. Imagine if every student could say:
- “I am valued and understood.”
- “I take risks in my learning, and I am succeeding academically.”
- “Oak Harbor believes in me and my future.”
The strategic plan and the Vision of the Student Experience outline clear steps to progress. “We are aligned and cohesive for the greater good of our district and our families,” Kuss-Cybula said. “We know we can’t do everything all at once, so we focus on a few strategies at a time.”
Early Wins Toward Strategic Plan Goals
Kuss-Cybula gave a progress report at the September 2025 board meeting. She said that of all the progress made, the most meaningful outcome was that 83% of students reported having supportive relationships with adults at school.
Goebel agreed. “Students feel comfortable, encouraged, and safe because all the teachers, staff, and administrators create a supportive environment.” She explained that in this setting, students have the confidence to stretch and take risks in their learning.
The hard work by students, teachers, and staff has led to early progress toward strategic plan goals. A few examples:
- 18% more students are ready for kindergarten (the goal was 15%).
- Fifth graders’ literacy skills jumped 12% over their scores as 4th graders.
- North Whidbey Middle School’s new math intervention program for specific 7th and 8th graders led to 52% growth in proficiency towards meeting grade-level standards in math.
- 81% of freshmen earned 7.5 credits (goal was 75%).
#OneOakHarbor Builds Belonging
Fostering students’ sense of belonging and inclusion is especially meaningful in Oak Harbor, where 40% of students are from military families. They often move to new locations and may struggle to feel welcomed and included.
A message of welcome and belonging surfaced during strategic plan development: the hashtag #OneOakHarbor. It’s now a prevailing theme in district outreach, activities, communications, and decision-making.
While board members bring different experiences and personalities to the table, they are committed to #OneOakHarbor in decisions about Oak Harbor Public Schools. Director Nicole Tesch described the individual board members as unique puzzle pieces who respect each other and work together.
“If we don’t agree on something, we have more work to do. We need to talk about it more,” Tesch said. “I don’t want a 4-1 vote. We want to show our community we endorse something wholeheartedly.”
Board Game Added Budget Perspective
As in school districts statewide, Oak Harbor leaders are working through budget challenges. “Budget cuts weigh on your heart and keep you awake at night. We take the job seriously,” Goebel said.
Tesch recalled a group activity that reinforced the meaning and importance of their work: a game of Jenga.
Kuss-Cybula brought a Jenga game to a board work session. Each Jenga piece represented a budget item that had to be accomplished — with fewer people, less budget, and less support. As each board member tugged out a piece of the tower, they had to “add it back into the budget” by finding the right balancing spot at the top of the stack.
Tesch said the exercise helped put budget decisions into perspective compared to only seeing information on paper. She suggested that legislators should participate in a similar exercise to better understand how educational budget cuts create a wobbly structure.
Passion for all students starts at home for Tesch. Four of her five children attend four different Oak Harbor schools (the oldest has graduated from college). “My kids are my motivation for all of this work. I want them to know I’ve done everything I could to be part of their education,” she said.
Tesch works for the Anacortes School District, supporting the superintendent and the school board. “I’m super passionate about education as a board member and in my career. I’ve found my people. I’ve found what fills my bucket.”
Two New Schools, No Bonds Needed
With experience in grant writing, Tesch was deeply involved in Oak Harbor’s application for grant funding for two new school building projects. The successful effort meant no bond measure was needed. She looks forward to the ribbon-cutting events at the two new buildings in October 2026, including Crescent Harbor Elementary, where she attended as a student.
Opening two new schools without a new bond measure is transformational and unusual, Goebel said. The federal grant for 80% of construction costs reflects the district’s strong relationship with the local U.S. Navy community.
More buildings are on board directors’ minds as they explore options for a capital facilities plan. New construction helps schools better accommodate current learning needs, such as more plug-ins for tech devices. “And, kids deserve spaces where they feel safe and supported,” Tesch said.
Student Board Role is Popular
Aligning with the focus on student voice, the directors have cultivated an active student school board representative program. More than a dozen students recently applied for one of the board’s two student representative roles that open up each year, and all are highly qualified. “I’m blown away by their public speaking abilities and the great questions they ask. They are ready!” Tesch said.
The board’s two student members hosted a regional meeting of their student board representative peers. They also teamed with Ferndale School District student representatives to lead a session at the 2025 WSSDA Annual Conference.
Listen, Learn, Share
Oak Harbor’s board members are always listening and learning. After attending a workshop or talking with students, they share the insights with their fellow board members.
In that spirit of sharing, Goebel, Tesch, and Kuss-Cybula offered suggestions for school directors across the state:
- Keep kids at the center of your discussions. Go out and be with them. Be curious and listen.
- Be transparent. “Everybody likes birthday parties, but nobody likes surprises,” Kuss-Cybula said.
- Take to heart the five WSSDA standards for directors.
- Cultivate the relationship with your superintendent to build trust and mutual understanding. Investing in the relationship early will pay dividends later when you need to lean on each other in a challenging situation.
- Stay informed, keep reading, and take risks with your own learning.
WSSDA’s conferences, workshops, and daily eClippings with education news help board directors stay informed, Goebel said. “I use the WSSDA resources to keep up on the latest information. I’ve even repeated some classes over time. You always come away with at least one ‘aha’ moment.”
Graduation is a Proud Moment for All
Goebel joined the Oak Harbor board shortly after retiring from teaching in 2019. Her 28-year career included time with Oak Harbor Public Schools.
She loves being invited to school events and programs. She’s been a guest speaker for AVID classes and other Q&A settings. High school graduation is a highlight of the year.
“Graduation is board members’ favorite event. It fills your heart,” Goebel said. She especially enjoys greeting former students who are now crossing the stage as graduates.
Graduation 2026 was to be even more special for Tesch. As a board member, she would get to award her daughter her diploma.
“Being part of that moment will be great.”
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of WSSDA Direct. Visit wssda.org/direct to see all the latest issues of WSSDA’s newsmagazine.