Board of Cooperative Educational Services » Board Members

Board Members

Please meet the members of the WSWHE Board of Cooperative Educational Services:

Linda L. King

President

Lake George

Term Ends: June 30, 2025

Lin has served public education as a board member since 1987 when she was elected to the Lake George Central School District Board, where she served as President and Vice President. 

Lin joined the BOCES Board in 2004. She has served on the Buildings and Grounds Committee, Negotiations Committee, and the Policy Committee. She is the Legislative Liaison for the Board. 

In addition, Lin is the current President of the Adirondack Area School Boards Association.

Lin lives in the Lake George area with her husband and two children. 

Lin is a longtime advocate of public education and life-long learning.
 

David Petruska
Vice-President
 

Waterford-Halfmoon

 

Term Ends: June 30, 2026

 

David served as member of the Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District Board of Education for 21 years, from 1980 to 2001. He concurrently served as a BOCES board member since 1983, first on the Saratoga-Warren BOCES and then on the merged WSWHE BOCES. 

 

"I enjoy the opportunity of turning ideas into educational programs for ALL of the students in the BOCES area and seeing these students excel in their endeavors." 

 

David and his wife, Florence, have been happily married for 48 years and have three grown children and three grandchildren. Gregory and Jonathan graduated from Waterford-Halfmoon High School. Gregory resides in NYC and is the Director, EHS for Live Theatrical Productions Worldwide, NBCUniversal.  Jon is a software developer with Autotask and is raising his family in Waterford. Sabrina went to Waterford-Halfmoon Elementary School and graduated from CCHS. She is now with the NYS Education Department, Associate in Education Improvement Services.

 

Family and education are very important to David. When not involved in BOCES, weather-permitting, he will be downhill skiing.  When not skiing, David is a bookkeeper at Northeast Pest Control in North Menands.

 

 
Heidi Andrejkovics
Hudson Falls
 
Term Ends: June 30, 2024
 

Heidi Annalisa Bohne Andrejkovics has been serving public education as a Board of Education member of the Hudson Falls Central School District since 2019.  She is chair of the Advocacy/PR committee and a member of the Policy committee for that board.


Heidi is a preschool Speech and Language Pathologist serving Warren and Washington counties through Early Intervention and Public Health.  


Heidi has been married for 18 years to her husband, John, who is a teacher at Queensbury High School.  They have two children, a son (16) and a daughter (14).  She has many interests including Crossfit, gardening, knitting, cooking and baking.


Heidi  joined the WSWHE BOCES Board in September of 2023 and is excited to be a part of  the work of that Board. 

 

 
Pamela Ellis

Argyle

Term Ends: June 30, 2024

Pam is currently in her 19th year serving on the Board of Education for the Argyle Central School District, serving as the president since 2005.      

Pam is employed by Cerner Corporation, as a computer healthcare consultant.  Pam works remotely from home to support hospitals around the country.  Her work as a project manager, installation director, and application director requires developing and managing large budgets, meeting project deadlines, and managing a number of employees.  The healthcare information industry is always changing and highly regulated by the government.  Pam's 36 years of experience in this field has been great training for her work on the school board.

Pam has always taken great pride in the education of the students of her district, stating "our children’s education does not end in the classroom.  It is exciting to see the social, leadership, and citizenship skills our students develop.  The challenges of our school districts are constantly changing.  For smaller districts it is increasing difficult to provide students with the opportunities they need while being fiscally responsible.  I am excited to broaden my knowledge and to contribute on the services and opportunities that WSWHE BOCES can provide to component districts."    

Pam lives in Argyle with her husband of 34 years, Robert (Bub).  Pam is a graduate of Argyle Central and attended Siena College, where she graduated with a BS in Computer Science.   Pam and Bub have two children, Ashley and Dylan.


 
Michael Erickson

North Warren

Term Ends: June 30, 2026

Mr. Erickson is a six term member of the North Warren Central School Board.

Born and raised in Minnesota, Mr. Erickson received a BA in Psychology from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, and a MA in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.  Mr. Erickson retired in 2003 after twenty years as a Naval Flight Officer and settled with his family in Brant Lake.  All three of his daughters are graduates of North Warren CSD and his wife is a math and computer science teacher in the district. Mr. Erickson is the grandchild, child, and the spouse of teachers. He is now employed with the United States Postal Service in Lake George, NY.  In the past, Mr. Erickson has served his community's Meals-On-Wheels program, the Horicon Volunteer Fire Department, Horicon Town Ethics Committee, and is a twelve year member of the National Ski Patrol (Gore Mountain).

Mr. Erickson's Board of Education experience includes Vice President, Budget Committees, Buildings and Grounds, and Sports and Policy, among others.


Jason Fernau
Ballston Spa
 
Term Ends: June 30, 2024
 

Jason Fernau was first elected to the Ballston Spa Central School District Board of Education in May 2018, and currently serves as the Board President. He is a proud BSHS graduate and has been a resident in the district for over 45 years. He is the parent of two BSHS graduates. Jason has served as a past Vice President of the Malta Avenue PTA, and a past President and Treasurer of the District PTA Council. He currently works for MAXIMUS, working for the New York State of Health (Health Care Exchange), leading a reporting and data analytics team. His educational background consists of an undergraduate degree in English Education from Boston University, and a Master's of Business Administration from the University at Albany, SUNY. Along with his family, he has volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House of Albany for over 15 years. He resides with his wife Kathy and family in Malta.


 
Steve Grandin

Saratoga Springs

Term Ends: June 30, 2025

Steve has worked for Capitol Hill Management Services in Albany for 35 years, as a senior account executive.  His duties have included administering state and national professional associations, administering a New York State licensing examination, and editing an annual guide on the New York State Legislature.  Prior to working for CHMS, he was a newspaper sports editor for nine years, seven years at The Saratogian in Saratoga Springs.

Steve served on the Saratoga Springs City School District's Board of Education from 2009 to 2018.  He was a member of the community facility committee that helped plan the district-wide construction project in 1999, as well as serving as a member of the organizational committee that developed the Blue Streak Hall of Fame, serving on its selection committee for a decade.
 
Steve graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelors degree in Communication Arts, and is a graduate of Ballston Spa High School.  Steve and his wife, Renee, have been married for 40 years and have lived in Saratoga Springs since 1984.  They have three sons (Philip, Alex and Will), all of whom are graduates of Saratoga Springs High School, and two granddaughters (Madeline and Anastasia).  
 

 
Naomi Marsh

Cambridge

Term Ends: June 30, 2025

Naomi earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Master of Education degree in counseling from St. Lawrence University. She also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Russell Sage College. She retired after 23 years with the State Education Department in Student Support Services. 

Naomi volunteers for a number of local and statewide organizations including: 

  • CCS Strategic Planning Core Team; Measurement and Action Groups
  • Facilitator of the Cambridge Community Christmas Dinner
  • Board Member of the Cambridge Valley Community Development and Preservation Partnership Inc.
  • Member of the Hometown vs. Heroin Coalition
  • Past Chairperson of the Cambridge Valley Rescue Squad Auxiliary
  • Member of the NYS Youth Development Team
  • Member of the NY Children's Advocacy Network
 

In her "free" time, Naomi likes to "read and read" and "knit and knit" and enjoy her neighborhood. She is currently making it her business to raise awareness in the community and county about the opioid and heroin epidemic, focusing especially on primary prevention – decreasing the likelihood that kids will become addicted in the first place. 

Naomi has "a marvelous and wonderful daughter" who is a successful ceramic artist, currently completing a three-year Master of Fine Arts program at the University of Nebraska (Lincoln). She is also happy to report she is close friends with her ex, his wife and children.


Kevin Ostrander

South Glens Falls

Term Ends: June 30, 2024

Retired and currently a member of the South Glens Falls Board of Education. Management for over 30 years ranging from marketing to operations in the medical field. Having been on past Board of Education for South Glens Falls from 1988 to 1998. As well as being a past BOCES board member from 1996 and 1997.

We must ensure BOCES has created programs and services for all of our districts. Helping all districts save money and provide opportunities and needs that pertain to them. Offering these programs and services that they might not be able to afford otherwise. Being retired will allow me the time needed as well as being an experienced board member overseeing our school systems, goals, and polices. To ensure we are preparing our students for their future whether it may be military, college, or the job market.


John A. Rieger

Schuylerville

 

Term Ends: June 30, 2025

 

John is the founder, owner, and operator of Country Power Products, Inc. in Greenwich, NY. Country Power offers sales and service of power equipment, ATVs, snowmobiles, mowers, chainsaws, trimmers, generators, small engines etc. They also carry lawn and garden supplies including trees, shrubs, flowers, and a complete line of animal feeds and supplies to support both full- and part-time farmers. 

In addition to being President of the WSWHE BOCES Board of Education, John is President of the Greater Adirondack Resource, Conservation and Development Council; Chairman of the Washington County Soil and Water Conservation district; a New York State certified snowmobile safety instructor; and a member of the Washington County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board. 

John resides on the family farm in Greenwich, New York in the Town of Fort Edward. He has been married to V. Millie Young Rieger for 57 years, and they have three daughters and three beautiful grandchildren.  

 
Cheryl Smith

Galway

Term Ends: June 30, 2025

In addition to serving on the BOCES Board, Cheryl was the Vice President of the Galway Central School District Board of Education.

 
Stephen Smoller

Queensbury

Term Ends: June 30, 2026

Mr. Smoller has served public education as a board member since 2008.

 
Janine Thomas

Hartford

Term Ends: June 30, 2024

Originally from the Hudson Valley, Janine began her teaching career in the Adirondack foothills with BOCES. She taught students at Hartford, Hudson Falls, and Abraham Wing. She then taught full-time at Hartford for 30 years. 

Now retired, with her own painting studio and gallery, Janine can't stay away from schools. She is currently serving her third term on the Hartford Board of Education and now on the WSWHE BOCES Board. 

As the current crisis in public education grows, Janine is convinced that all schools need to cooperate wherever possible. As a BOCES Board member, she hopes to foster positive relationships among member districts. Her ultimate goal is to offer all students an education rich with substance and quality.

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Jimel Williams
Stillwater
 

Term Ends:  June 30, 2026

Born in Manhattan, Jimel moved to Albany when he was 9.  He visited Stillwater one summer when he was 12 and refused to leave.  He credits the caring teachers of the Stillwater School District for helping him reach his full potential as he previously felt misunderstood.  He is a proud graduate of Stillwater.  He went on to receive his bachelor’s in Management Information System from RPI.   

Jimel is a 20+ year civil servant who currently works as the IT Lead for NYS Integrated Eligibility System.  He started his career at NYS Teachers Retirement and spent 10 years with the Division of Criminal Justice, Homeland Security and State Police.  He is eager to serve as the newest BOCES Board member and is currently serving as the president of the Stillwater School Board.   

Jimel lives with his wife and 2 of his 3 children in Stillwater.  His oldest daughter graduated from Keene state who works in Boston and is currently pursuing her MBA.  His twins are entering 10th grade at Stillwater and are interested in the CTE programs offered by BOCES.   

“I want to ensure a fair education for all students and I have a personal interest in those with special educational needs.”