The three board candidates were elected in the Nov. 5 general election and will be sworn in officially at the Dec. 10 school board meeting
VANCOUVER — Vancouver Public Schools welcomes Tracie Barrows, Kathy Decker and Kyle Sproul to the board of directors. The three board candidates were elected in the Nov. 5 general election and will be sworn in officially at the Dec. 10 school board meeting. The meeting will take place at 5 p.m. at the Bates Center for Educational Leadership, 2921 Falk Rd.
Tracie Barrows is a school psychologist at Columbia Valley and Crestline elementary schools in Evergreen Public Schools. She has been a school psychologist for 12 years and has lived in Vancouver since 2009. Barrows earned a master’s degree from Argosy University in Hawaii. Her husband, Doug, is a fourth-grade math and science teacher at Endeavour Elementary in Evergreen Public Schools.
“I am honored to have been elected by our community to serve on the board,” said Barrows. “My goals are to ensure that our students’ diverse needs are represented and considered in our decision-making, as well as to bring an understanding of students’ emotional and mental health to the board as we work together for the future of our district.”
Kathy Decker, a former VPS teacher, has lived in Vancouver for the past 23 years. She began teaching after earning her Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and has taught in three states and Japan. She and her husband, Mark, have three children; two are VPS graduates and one is currently at Columbia River High School.
“Each school community has different gifts and struggles,” said Decker. “By engaging with staff, parents and teachers, I hope to provide opportunities for schools to develop their unique paths toward success.”
Kyle Sproul, a Washington native, moved to Vancouver in 2006. Sproul has a Master of Business Administration degree from Indiana University. Her 19-year career includes working as a marketing strategist for two Fortune 500 companies. Currently, she is a part-time marketing director for a small business. She and her husband, David, have three children; two are VPS students and one is a future VPS student.
“I am honored to serve the Vancouver Public Schools community,” said Sproul. “This work is essential; school employees are charged not simply with educating our students, but also preparing them for their futures in a very dynamic and changing world.”
Information provided by Vancouver Public Schools.
