Dick Bond, Overland Park

Kansas Senate, 1986 to 2001; President of Kansas Senate, 1996 to 2001; current member of Kansas Board of Regents

Jim Braden, Clay Center

Member of Kansas House of Representatives, 1975 to 1991; former Speaker of the House of Representatives

Vern Chesbro, Ottawa

Retired Senior V.P. of Contel Corporation; Executive Secretary and Chairman, Kansas Republican Party, 1982-1986; Trustee and Chairman of KPERS, 1984-2004

Rochelle Chronister, Neodesha

Former member of the Kansas House of Representatives; past Secretary of Kansas Social and Rehabilitation Services

Tim Cruz, Garden City

Former Mayor of Garden City, Trinity Lutheran Board Directors, Former member of Board of Directors of St. Catherine Hospital, Former Member of Kansas Children’s Cabinet.

Joyce Cussimanio, Girad

USD 248 educator (5 ½ years); Substance Abuse Prevention Consultant and Program Coordinator at Southeast Kansas Education Service Center, (8 years); Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services with Social and Rehabilitation Services, (4 years); Executive Director of the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, (4 years). Currently offering strategic planning and organizational change consulting services.

Ray Daniels, Kansas City

Superintendent Emeritus of Kansas City, KS School District. Served for 40 years in Kansas public education as teacher and administrator. Kansas 2005 Superintendent of the Year.

Tom Docking, Wichita

Lieutenant Governor, State of Kansas, 1983-1987; Represented USD 259 in school finance litigation, 1992; Currently in private practice of law.

Barry L. Flinchbaugh, Ph.D., Manhattan

Kansas Extension Leader for Agricultural Economics, 1984 - 2004; Special Assistant to the President of Kansas State University (4 years); Chairman of Alfred M. Landon Lecture Series on Public Issues (5 years); presently serves on the Board of Directors of Kansas City Board of Trade and KARL Inc.

Linda Frick, Scott City

President of Scott City School Board; former member of Kansas State University Alumni Board

Charles Frickey,  Oberlin

Former Mayor of Oberlin, 1995-2001.  Church leader in Oberlin and Northwest Kansas.  Former Republican County Chair.  Practicing attorney.  Involved in grain and livestock farming.

Craig Grant, Lawrence

Former chief lobbyist and political director for Kansas National Education Association; Communications Director for Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley; Current Vice President of Lawrence USD 497 School Board.

Dr. R.V. Haderlein, Girard

42-year member of USD 248 School Board; past president of National School Board Association

Dr. Robert Harder, Topeka

Former Secretary of Kansas Social and Rehabilitation Services and Secretary of Kansas Department of Health and Environment; volunteer lobbyist for the United Methodist Church, KS; ordained minister, United Methodist Church;  volunteer in Kansas public schools for past ten years

Clark Harris, Tribune

Farmer and rancher; 12-year member of Greeley County Board of Education

Sue Ice, Newton

Named 2005 Citizen of the Year by Newton Chamber of Commerce; Former Member of Newton School Board; Newton Medical Center Board of Directors (1993-2005); Newton Presbyterian Church Elder; Public Member, Kansas Board of Healing Arts

Dan Johnson, Hays

Member, Kansas House of Representatives; Chairman of Kansas House Agriculture Committee

Janis Lee, Kensington

Kansas State Senator for 18 years, currently serves as Assistant Minority Leader. Local school board member for 10 years. Chair since 1995 of the Use Value Advisory Committee of the Department of Revenue

Mildred McMillen, Tonganoxie

former member of Kansas State Board of Education

Bob Meneilly, Prairie Village

Founding Pastor of the Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kansas and served for 47 years until retiring at age 70. One of the founders of The Mainstream Coalition and The Interfaith Alliance in Washington.

John Nalbandian, Lawrence

Former Mayor of Lawrence, Former chair - Department of Public Administration, University of Kansas

Ligia Paquette, Junction City

40 years public school experience in Kansas and Puerto Rico; former elementary education and Spanish teacher; former school counselor

Ethel Peterson, Dodge City

40 years experience in education; former member of Kansas House of Representatives (7 years)

Pat Ranson, Wichita

Former vice chairwoman of Kansas Republican Party; former Assistant Majority Leader/Whip in Kansas Senate; President of Utility Consultants, Inc., a drug and alcohol monitoring service

Nick Rogers, Arkansas City

General Dentist in private practice in Kansas since 1979, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (Affiliate) 2002- current
Member of Kansas Dental Association and American Dental Association, USD 470 Board of Education President and Vice President, Ark City Day Care Board of Directors - 1979-1986
Ark City Head start co-founder, Ark City Head Start Board of Directors 1985 – present, Kansas Association of School Boards Regional Vice - President – 1985-1987, Friend of Education Award - 1985, Educate America Panel, State Board of Education - 1997 - 2001

Louis Ruiz, Kansas City

Retired from Lucent Technologies in Kansas City (30 years service). Member, Kansas House of Representatives, District 32.

I.B. “Sonny” Rundell, Syracuse

former member of Kansas State Board of Education

Roonie Sellers

Hutchinson Community Foundation Trustee; Leadership Kansas and Leadership Hutchinson Board Member; Kansas Action for Children Board Member; First Presbyterian Church Elder

Philip Shull, Wichita

Pastor, University United Methodist Church; coordinator of the Creation Colloquium at Montana State University, involving Science, Religion, History and Philosophy faculty in a discussion of Creationism, Intelligent Design, and Evolution; member of Kansas Ecumenical Ministries Board of Directors.

Jack Wempe, Lyons

Eight years in the Kansas House of Representative (1991-1999)
Former Chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents 
Background in education and business.