For the fifth time in seven years, the Battle Ground Public Schools board of directors has received Washington state’s Board of Distinction designation from the Washington State School Directors Association. Battle Ground is one of just two Clark County districts to receive the recognition in 2024. BGPS was recognized in the large district category. The current board includes President Mary Snitily, Vice President Jackie Maddux, Director Ted Champine, Director Debbie Johnson, Director Terry Tate, Student Representative Itzel Contreras Montiel and Student Representative Julia Stiffer.
The recognition demonstrates the board’s commitment to excellence in governance, leadership and community collaboration over the past five school years.
BGPS’ board of directors is guided by core beliefs that align with the district’s strategic plan, which emphasizes creating a safe and caring environment, high-quality instruction and collaboration that cultivates trust. Key highlights of the board's recent work include:
Professional development through engaging in book studies, conducting monthly work sessions tied to the district’s strategic goals and annual self-assessments.
Support for Professional Learning Communities and waiver days that give teachers time to focus on implementing best practices of high-quality curriculum; approval of updated curricula; and monitoring of data to track progress and identify areas for improvement.
Inclusion of student voice through student board representatives, the district’s student advisory committee and board meeting reports by students.
Community engagement through a citizens advisory committee, creating the opportunity to represent the range of stakeholder voices in decision-making.
Regular feedback obtained through school tours and reports from staff and community members.
"Through collaboration with district administration and continuous engagement with our community, we remain committed to creating the conditions for every student to thrive," said Board President Mary Snitily. "This recognition reflects the collective dedication of the entire board."
The Boards of Distinction program, initiated in 2009, aligns with the research-based Washington school board standards. These standards guide school boards to focus on areas where they can make the most significant difference in supporting students, aligning with their community’s aspirations for its children and effectively governing their school districts.
Pictured back row from left: Director Ted Champine, President Mary Snitily and Director Debbie Johnson. Middle row: Director Terry Tate and Vice President Jackie Maddux. Front row: Student representatives Itzel Contreras Montiel and Julia Stiffler.