Kelly Bissinger has been on the InterMountain Education Service District board since before the ESD was formed in 2011.
“His sense of responsibility and community service have been a driving force for our board,” said InterMountain Superintendent Mark Mulvihill. “He is special due to his longevity, his resilience, his wisdom and his commitment.”
Bissinger’s commitment to students and good board governance earned him the honor of being named the 2025 Oregon School Board Member of the Year.
“Over and over again I have heard the highest praise we can bestow on a school board member: Kelly has a heart for kids,” said Emielle Nischik, OSBA executive director, in the news release announcing the award.
Over more than 20 years total of school board volunteer service – seven times as board chair – Bissinger has been an unflagging advocate for rural education, adequate school funding and Public Employees Retirement System reform.
“I love the pay,” Bissinger said. “The pay is the satisfaction that what we do helps kids.”
The Oregon School Board Member of the Year award, started by OSBA in 2018, recognizes school board members for their leadership, advocacy work and support for student achievement. OSBA coordinates the nomination and selection process. Past winners choose the winner from among nominations from fellow school board members, administrators or community members.
“Kelly is the epitome of what we hope for from experienced school board members, offering his wisdom and support to peers not only on his board but to his whole region,” Nischik said.
Bissinger has led efforts to close student achievement gaps and increase services that help students stay in school and graduate. He created a regional board training and mentorship program and has promoted greater school board diversity. He is deeply involved with the Oregon Association of Education Service Districts and hosts a monthly radio show with Mulvihill.
In 2011, the Umatilla-Morrow ESD and Union-Baker ESD merged to create InterMountain with headquarters in Pendleton. Oregon education service districts provide centralized educational programs, services and administrative supports for school districts in their regions. InterMountain serves 21 school districts.
The future board members, which includes current members Joe McElligott and Merle Comfort (the 2019 Oregon School Board Member of the Year), began meeting before the ESD officially started. Coming out of the Great Recession, it was a difficult financial time, and there was a lot of work to do.
Bissinger’s financial services background came in handy, but Mulvihill said Bissinger’s desire to serve his community was the real treasure.
“He really believes in the mission and vision of an ESD,” Mulvihill said. “Our job is mission, goals, policy – those are important to him.”
Mulvihill said Bissinger has a calm and deliberate decision-making process that inspires confidence in a crisis and yet Bissinger demands that the ESD remain nimble to adapt to whatever its districts need.
Beth O’Hanlon, the InterMountain chief financial officer, said Bissinger is an active board member, from attending staff celebrations and districts’ school board meetings to state level advocacy.
O’Hanlon said that above all, Bissinger helps them stay focused on students’ needs and what the ESD does well.
“We’ve had some tough times,” she said. “He was a steadying force for all of us.”
Bissinger started his career as a teacher from 1973 to 1979 before a friend drew him into financial services.
He reacquired the education bug when his two sons were in school. Bissinger served on the Hermiston School Board for about six years in the late 1990s, where he discovered policy work.
“At least I can have some little influence on helping kids,” he said. “Working through policy keeps school board members out of trouble.”
Bissinger is a firm believer in board members’ setting policy, staying out of politics and giving staff the support they need to do the job right.
Jocelyn Jones, a fellow InterMountain board member, said she remembered Bissinger as being concerned about all students’ welfare when she was a Hermiston teacher and administrator.
“He’s just that guy who cares about what is going on and willing to put his money where his mouth his,” she said.
He again offered support when she was elected to the Union School Board and when she joined the InterMountain board.
“When you step into something new, that’s important,” she said. “He made me feel like I had done the right thing.”
Hermiston Superintendent Tricia Mooney has also known Bissinger since his kids were in school.
“To the core of his being, he is about what is best for students and willing to do the hard work,” she said. “When you say it takes a village, Kelly is the one you want in your village.”
Mulvihill chose to have Bissinger’s award revealed at a board meeting in September. Mulvihill said people choked up when Bissinger was nominated, and he wanted them there when Bissinger won. There were again tears, hugs and words of tribute.
Bissinger praised his fellow board members and their willingness to serve.
“We’re a great nation because of our education system,” Bissinger said that night. “I love being on the board because I know what I’m doing is helping kids. … It’s a noble cause to serve as a board member.”
Bissinger was officially honored at the OSBA Annual Convention in Portland earlier this month, where he was invited to speak.
“Our service requires more than oversight — it demands insight, empathy and courage,” he said. “The courage to ask hard questions, to listen deeply and to do what is right, not just what is easy.”
– Jake Arnold, OSBA
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