School Board Welcomes New Leadership and Student Advisors

During their regularly scheduled meeting on July 8, 2025, the Salem-Keizer Public Schools Board of Directors swore in student advisors to the school board, swore in newly elected board directors and elected new board leadership.

Newly Elected Board Directors

Newly elected board directors were officially sworn into their four-year terms of service.

• Director Lisa Harnisch, Zone 1
• Director Jennifer Parker, Zone 3
• Director Karina Guzmán Ortiz, Zone 5
• Director Mel Fuller, Zone 7

The School Board reelected Cynthia Richardson as the board chairperson, Lisa Harnisch as the new first vice chairperson and Karina Guzmán Ortiz as the new second vice chairperson. All three positions can be held for up to two years.

Each board director is elected by local voters to serve a four-year term without pay. Even though each director represents a zone in the district, the entire board works together to serve all students in Salem and Keizer.

Student Advisors

In addition to school board directors, the 2025–26 student advisors to the school board were also formally sworn into their year of service. Both Salem-Keizer students, Jolee McMahan and Jaxon Woods, will serve on the board in a non-voting, advisory capacity through June 2026.

Jolee McMahan, South Salem High School

Jolee is currently a rising junior at South Salem High School and has attended Salem-Keizer schools for 11 years. Through the application process, Jolee shared that she has “always been drawn to fairness, equality, and improvement of experiences for everyone. I believe every student should be accepting and encouraging.”

Jaxon Woods, Sprague High School

Jaxon is currently a rising senior at Sprague High School and has attended Salem-Keizer schools for the past 12 years. Through the application process, Jaxon shared that he looks forward to empowering the student body at the district level, allowing him to voice student perspectives on important issues.