Toni Jefferson will fill the empty District 3 director position, the Ferndale School Board announced Feb. 21.
“I am humbled with the opportunity to provide this service to our community,” Jefferson said.
She is a member of the Lummi Nation and a former member of the Lummi Nation Schools Education Board. She served in the past as the general manager of the Lummi Indian Business Council and is the current director of human resources at the Silver Reef Casino. She has worked in various other directing, management and board roles in Whatcom County.
Jefferson is also a former Ferndale High School student and has a son who is a student at Horizon Middle School.
During the Feb. 21 interview, Jefferson leaned into her experience as a former school board member, her knowledge of the Lummi and Ferndale communites and her extensive experience managing people and finances. She also highlighted her willingness to discuss the many issues the district faces.
“Some of those discussions will be hard, and that’s OK,” Jefferson said.
Questions from the school board to applicants focused on issues of diversity and inclusion, student experiences, the strengths and shortcomings of the district, and working with parents and community members.
“Every student deserves to have a safe place to come to, regardless of their background,” Jefferson said.
The District 3 position represents students and families of the Lummi Nation and parts of southwest Ferndale.
Jefferson will fill the gap left by Jessie Deardorff, who vacated the position in November 2022. Jefferson will hold the position until November 2023, when the director seat will be up for election along with the board president and vice president.
The school board selected Jefferson and three other applicants — Cindy Cultee, Patricia Dunn and Katie Dorr — to interview at a Jan. 24 meeting.
