The NCESD Board of Directors is comprised of seven individuals who are elected by local school board members in each of our 29 client school districts. Each brings a wealth of background and experience in both the private and public sector to their work on the NCESD Board.
In continued efforts to maintain direction and focus, the NCESD Board of Directors has laid out the Board’s work in the 2024-2025 NCESD Board Work Plan. The purpose of the Annual Work Plan is two-fold. First, the plan ensures that the Board responds to and aligns with local school districts and NCESD initiatives. Second, that the Board considers stakeholder perspectives and aligns with stakeholder expectations, incorporating annual NCESD Owners Summit input into plan development. The Annual Work Plan serves to:
- Identify the Board’s core priorities
- Outline an actionable plan to accomplish the priorities
- Establish a timeline of important events in chronological and relationship order over an 18-month period.
- Create a visual and transparent display of the Board’s work
Board Meetings
The NCESD Board meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month, except during holidays or special events. Board meetings begin at 12:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
2024-2025 NCESD Board Meetings are scheduled as follows:
- August 28, 2024
- September 25, 2024
- October 23, 2024
- November 26, 2024
- November 26, 2024 Minutes
- December 11, 2024 (off-site meeting, begins at 5:00 pm)
- January 22, 2025
- February 26, 2025
- March 26, 2025
- April 23, 2025
- May 28, 2025
- June 25, 2025
- No July Meeting
2023-2024 Board Meetings
- August 23, 2023 (off-site meeting)
- September 27, 2023
- October 25, 2023
- No November Meeting
- December 13, 2023 (off-site meeting, begins at 5:00pm)
- January 24, 2024
- February 28, 2024
- March 27, 2024
- April 24, 2024
- May 22, 2024
- June 26, 2024
- No July Meeting
2022-2023 Board Meetings
- August 24, 2022 (off-site meeting begins at 11:30 am)
- September 28, 2022
- October 26, 2022
- November 22, 2022 – (Special Session begins at 10:00 am)
- November 22 , 2022(Regular Board Meeting at 12:00 pm)
- December 14, 2022 (off-site meeting begins at 5:00 pm)
- January 25, 2023
- February 22, 2023
- March 22, 2023
- April 26, 2023
- May 24, 2023
- June 28, 2023
- July 2023 (no meeting)
Read past Board Agendas and Minutes
NCESD Policies and Procedures
Use the toggles below to access the different categories for the North Central ESD’s Policies and Procedures. By clicking on a specific policy or procedure, a new tab will open in your browser.
The NCESD Board is comprised of the following Directors:
District 1 Representative
Dr. Richard Johnson
Okanogan, WA
Dr. Johnson comes to the board of directors with over 40 years of experience in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education in Idaho and Washington. In 2018, he retired from his role as Superintendent of Okanogan School District after serving for 30 years. He is also involved with Okanogan Chamber of Commerce and Okanogan Kiwanis. He represents Okanogan, Omak, Oroville, and Tonasket School Districts, and began his service in June 2021.
District 2 Representative
Dr. Michael Musick – Board Vice Chair
Leavenworth, WA
Prior to moving to Leavenworth, Dr. Musick served as the Superintendent of the Lake Oswego School District where he successfully led programs and initiatives to boost student achievement. He began his career in education as a Business and Marketing Education teacher in 1982 before moving into various administrative roles. He represents the Cascade, Cashmere, Entiat, Lake Chelan, Manson and Stehekin School Districts.
District 3 Representative
Cathi Nelson
Waterville, WA
Cathi Nelson comes to the NCESD board of directors from a longtime career in education, including serving 26 years at the Waterville School District as an elementary teacher, principal, and then Superintendent until her retirement in 2018. Cathi represents Brewster, Bridgeport, Coulee-Hartline, Grand Coulee Dam, Mansfield, Nespelem, Orondo, Palisades, Pateros, Methow Valley, and Waterville School Districts, and began her service in January 2022.
District 4 Representative
Larry MacGuffie
Ephrata, WA
Larry MacGuffie is the Chair of the Board, recently retired from Canfield and Associates in Ephrata. Before that, he served 31 years as a classroom teacher, school psychologist, director of special services, director of Columbia Basin Alternative High School and superintendent of Ephrata School District before his retirement in 1997. Larry represents Ephrata, Quincy, Soap Lake, Warden, and Wilson Creek School Districts as District #4 Representative.
District 5 Representative
Mary Kunkle
Moses Lake, WA
Mary Kunkle, who serves as the District 5 Representative, is retired from Grant County PUD in Ephrata, where she served as Treasurer. Mary represents Moses Lake School District. She has served on the ESD Board over 20 years.
District 6 Representative
Marcia Henkle – Board Past Chair
East Wenatchee, WA
Marcia Henkle serves as Board Vice-Chair, as well as NCESD District 6 and AESD/Legislative Representative. Marcia represents Eastmont School District and the southern portion of the Wenatchee School District. She recently retired from her position as regional director of the WA State Employment Security Department, which administers Employment Security Departments’ employment and training programs in WorkSource offices in NCW. Marcia was raised in Douglas County on a wheat ranch. She has taught high school and community college, including Wenatchee Valley College, and also operated Trend College in East Wenatchee.
District 7 Representative
Susan Albert – Board Chair
Wenatchee, WA
Susan Albert was elected to serve as NCESD District 7 Representative and began her service in January 2018. This position represents the northern portion of the Wenatchee School District. She retired from her 42-year educational career in 2015 where she served as teacher, administrator, professor and principal. Susan remains involved in a variety of volunteer activities.
Superintendent
Dr. Michelle Price
430 Olds Station Rd., Wenatchee, WA 98801
Dr. Price began her service as NCESD Superintendent on July 1, 2017. Michelle’s background includes experience as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent as well as Moses Lake School District Superintendent, where she served 27 years.
Michelle holds a Doctorate Degree from Washington State University and served as President for the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) in 2014-15. She is currently a member of the National Executive Committee of the American Association of School Administrators.
Latest Agency News
EPA Awards NCESD for Careers in Green Chemistry Video Series
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced North Central ESD (NCESD) was one of 43 Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winners from across 20 states and the District of Columbia. Recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Supporter, NCESD provides educational resources to school districts and educational staff.
A Letter from NCESD Superintendent: Welcome to the 2024-2025 School Year
Superintendent Dr. Price welcomes our educational community back to school for the 2024-2025 school year. She highlights how NCESD leads, serves, and supports school districts, educators, students, and families through our programs.
NCESD Staff Awards Luncheon 2024
Each year, the NCESD takes the time to acknowledge team members who have gone above and beyond to demonstrate what it truly means to lead, serve, and support. The achievements celebrated during the event are testaments to the skilled and dedicated team at NCESD.