Our Board

Alison Bullock, President, grew up in Longview and recently relocated to Clark County after starting her career and family in Snohomish County. She is celebrating her 18th year in the financial industry and currently serves as vice president, branch manager at the Riverview Bank location in Battle Ground. Alison previously served on the Lake Stevens Education Foundation board and is a 2024 graduate of Leadership Clark County.  When Alison is not working or volunteering in the community; she enjoys spending time with her two young kids and husband, traveling to the WA/OR coasts, family movie nights’, getting a motorcycle ride in or attending baseball games.

Colleen O’Neal, President Emerita, is a retired educator with over thirty years’ experience as a teacher, principal, and education advocate. Upon retiring in 2015, she stepped in as BGEF president and began helping to rebuild the foundation to better serve the students and schools of the Battle Ground Public Schools. Married to Rick O’Neal, a retired Battle Ground High School teacher, the mother of three Battle Ground High School graduates, and grandmother of six, she continues to be a strong advocate for quality public education.

Ken Root, Vice President, has lived in the same house in the Battle Ground neighborhood of Venersborg for over 23 years. Both of his children attended Battle Ground Public Schools, and he currently has two family members teaching in the district. His daughter is a teacher in Cheney, WA. It has been his pleasure to have served for many years as a board member for various organizations, including Juvenile Diabetes, Foundation Research, Apollo’s, Rainbow, Battle Ground School District, The Breakers Hotel and Condominiums (current), and Battle Ground Education Foundation (current).

Jackie Lane, Secretary, worked in Technology and Finance for many years before retiring to spend more time in the community. She attended Leadership Clark County class of 2017, where she was part of a project team working with the Foundation, and after which she took a position on the board. She also sits on the board of Friends of Clark County, is active with the League of Woman Voters, and continues to volunteer with Leadership Clark County and other organizations. She has lived in the Battle Ground school district since moving to the Pacific Northwest in 1991.

Cheri Dailey is the Director of Risk Management and Business Operations for Battle Ground Public Schools and has worked for the district for 19 years.  Cheri grew up in Battle Ground and is a graduate of Battle Ground High School.  Her two daughters attended Battle Ground Public Schools and were the 4th generation in her family to graduate from Battle Ground High School.

Cherish DesRochers-Vafeados is a long-time Battle Ground resident who attended Battle Ground Public schools. She is currently employed at C-TRAN, Clark County’s Public Transit Agency, where she works as a customer service representative. DesRochers-Vafeados currently serves as the Deputy Mayor for the City of Battle Ground, where she serves on various boards and committees for the city. In addition to her service to the city, she is the founder/president of local nonprofit Food with Friends, home of the Shower Outreach Project. DesRochers-Vafeados is a 2020 recipient of the Vancouver Business Journal’s Accomplished and Under 40 Award.

Jackie Maddux is an Accounting Manager for Clark Public Utilities and School Board Director for Battle Ground School District. Four of her children graduated from Battle Ground Public Schools and during that time was actively involved with volunteering in the district including 6 years with the Prairie High School Boosters, Grad Night Committee, and multiple sports teams. Currently, she is a member of the Battle Ground Education Foundation where she continues to volunteer and support the students in Battle Ground schools.

Debbie Johnson is an assistant manager at Columbia River Mental Health Services. Previously, she was a Head Start teacher and educated children for 27 years. She also worked for the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services and was a foster parent, 4-H leader and youth director. Debbie holds an Associate of Science in early childhood education from Clark College and a Bachelor of Science in human development from George Fox University. She and her spouse are the proud parents of four adult children and grandparents to 12 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.