Heather Guernsey has served on the Chanute USD 413 Board of Education for two years. She also currently serves as the Region 3 Vice-President on the KASB Board of Directors.

Heather has a deep love for education and believes it has the power to change not only people but also the projection of their lives. She joined her local board of education to ensure that the public schools in her community continue to thrive.

Heather describes herself as a “groupie” for her four kids. She loves being involved and supporting them in all their activities. Heather is the choir director and teaches music to children at her church. She also serves on the Safari Museum Foundation. In any other free time she has, Heather loves to crochet.

Heather is a former third-grade teacher with bachelor’s degrees in elementary and special education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Emporia State University. Her experience helps her better understand the needs of students and teachers. Heather is committed to staying educated on current topics and working on self-improvement as a board member and a person. She makes sure to be open and approachable to community members.

Heather aims to increase academic achievement and student success post-graduation in her district by focusing on data that can help lead decision-making. As a member of the KASB Board of Directors, Heather’s focus is on sharing the story of public education and the achievements of our students and schools in Kansas with parents, legislators, and the public.

At school, Heather’s favorite teacher was Mrs. Maule. Heather describes herself as a quiet child, and Mrs. Maule noticed her intelligence and pushed her to be her best. Soon, Heather was one of the top students. This teacher helped her decide she wanted to be a teacher, too.

For a fun read, Heather recommends “Lemon Tart” by Josi Kilpack, the first book in a series of culinary mystery novels. For self-improvement, her recommendation is “Braving the Wilderness” by Brene Brown.