HERMISTON — Hermiston’s Kelly Bissinger was caught by surprise recently when the Oregon School Boards Association selected him as the 2025 Oregon School Board Member of the Year. “I’m humbled,” Bissinger said. “I love being on this school board with its members’ willingness to serve. I know what I’m doing is helping students.” Bissinger received the award Sept. 17.
The Oregon School Board Member of the Year award recognizes school board members for their leadership, advocacy work and support for student achievement in the purely volunteer role. The Oregon School Boards Association coordinates the nomination and selection.
Bissinger is the vice chair of the InterMountain Education System District.
“With his years of selfless service dedicated to students’ needs, Kelly Bissinger exemplifies what it means to be an Oregon school board member,” OSBA Executive Director Emielle Nischik said in the press release announcing Bissinger won the award.
With more than 20 years of school board service — seven times as board chair — Bissinger has been an advocate for rural education, adequate school funding and Public Employees Retirement System reform.
“I love the pay,” Bissinger said, before clarifying what the “pay” is. “The pay is the satisfaction that what we do helps kids.”
Bissinger was a Hermiston School Board member for six years and has served on the InterMountain School Board since the ESD was created in 2010 with the merger of the Umatilla-Morrow and Union-Baker ESDs. The board began functioning 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.”
Oregon education service districts provide centralized educational programs, services and administrative supports for school districts in their regions. InterMountain serves 21 school districts.
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 board diversity. He is involved with the Oregon Association of Education Service Districts and hosts a monthly radio show with Mulvihill.
According to the IMESD, Bissinger is dedicated to making sure all students, no matter their circumstances, receive the resources, the support and the opportunity to succeed in school. He also helps other board members succeed, attending board meetings in the area and mentoring new school board members.
“It’s a noble cause to be a school board member,” he said. “We set aside biases and prejudices because we are there for the sake of students.”
Bissinger is a retired financial planner who has used his specialized knowledge to help districts through difficult decisions. He is married to Dawn, and they have two married sons and four grandchildren.
Community members nominate candidates for the Oregon School Board Member of the Year, and a panel of judges then makes the selection.
Mulvihill said people who had worked with Bissinger for years became emotional when he was nominated. Family and friends showed up Sept. 17 to see him receive the honor he didn’t know was coming. The emotions surfaced again as people expressed their appreciation for Bissinger.
Jocelyn Jones, an InterMountain board member now, was a Hermiston teacher and administrator while Bissinger was a school board member. She said Bissinger always was supportive of staff and students.
“He’s just that guy who cares about what is going on and willing to put his money where his mouth his,” she said.
Hermiston Superintendent Tricia Mooney said Bissinger continues to be supportive of the district even though it’s not part of the ESD. She was a teacher when Bissinger’s own children were in school there. She said even then, he cared about all the students, not just his own.
“To the core of his being, he is about what is best for kids,” she said. “When you say it takes a village, Kelly is the one you want in your village.”
What a delightful surprise for Kelly Bissinger! Its heartwarming to see a school board member get such a lovely award, especially when he initially thought the pay was just the satisfaction of helping kids. His dedication, with over 20 years of service and even more time as board chair, is truly impressive. Its great to know someone is working tirelessly to ensure all students get the resources and support they need, closing gaps and promoting diversity along the way. Bissinger seems like a gem – a retired financial planner using his skills for noble causes and even hosting a radio show with the superintendent. Its inspiring to see community members come together to honor such a dedicated leader, making sure he knew just how valued he was. His colleagues and family were clearly touched, which is the best testament to his impact. A well-deserved recognition for a man who puts students first!
You don’t know me, but I want to congratulate you on your 2025 Oregon School Board member of the Year. It is quite an honor to have been chosen. I am a retired teacher in Kentucky but read articles from all over the United States. Without good school board members, the educational system would be less efficient in the direction that should be taken to continue improvement in all areas.