Voting Procedures:
1. All candidates will be introduced at the Saturday morning General Session I that starts at 8:30. Nominations may be made from the floor.
2. At the 2:30 General Session II, voting will take place via a ballots for the State Officers: President, Vice President and Secretary. All convention registered members may vote.
3. At the Executive Board Meeting on Sunday at 9:15, following the General Session III, those on the board (state elected officers and chapter presidents) will vote for the Nominations Committee and the Finance Committee via a ballots, and by District.

State Officers

President: Darlene Cook, Chi/6

I joined Alpha Chapter in 2004 where I served my chapter as World Fellowship Chair, Legislative Chair, 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President, and President. After following my granddaughter Ellie (and Ellie’s parents!) to Vancouver Washington in 2018, I later transferred my membership to Chi Chapter. At the state level, I have been on the Educational Excellence Committee, State Vice President and Oregon State Organization President from 2019-2021. I am currently on the Alpha Rho Foundation Board of Directors and am Chair of the Membership/Expansion Committee.  

A 2014 graduate of the Golden Gift Leadership Management Seminar, I was on the Steering Committee for the 2021 Portland International Conference. I am Chair of the US Forum Steering Committee this biennium, and served as the Northwest Regional Representative with the Forum from 2014-2018. My interest in advocacy and support of education-friendly legislation began early in my teaching career, when I became active with the Oregon Education Association. I was a member of the OEA Legislative Advisory Council and the Congressional Advocacy Team.  I also served two terms as State President of the Oregon Retired Educators Association. 

During my 32 year career in education, I taught German and directed high school productions in Madras; and was a teacher of special needs children and elementary resource specialist in Klamath County. In addition, I was a substitute teacher and tutor for several years in both the Central Oregon and Klamath Basin areas.
I would encourage all of our Oregon members to consider DKG as a life-long journey; to become active at all levels of the Society (Chapter, State and International); and to learn about all the benefits and programs DKG has to offer. I believe every member is a leader; and a strong mentoring program at both the Chapter and State levels will help grow and maintain membership and inspire leadership for the future.

Vice President: Dr. Wendy Hacke, Beta Beta/5

In 2012, I joined Delta Kappa Gamma as a member of Gamma Psi In San Jose, California. After a year as a member, I became the corresponding/recording secretary and held the position from 2013-2015 when I became co-vice president. I served as co-vice president until I moved in 2018. The move led me to Oregon where my first order of business was to find a chapter that I could become active in. I found Beta Beta where I have been active on a variety of committees. In 2021 I became a member of the Beta Beta Education Foundation and am still currently a member. In Fall 2022, I added the role of recording secretary. During my tenure with Beta Beta, I became active with the Oregon State Organization. In that capacity I have served as a member of the Membership Committee and the Co-Chair of the Yamhill County Expansion Committee. I have also served as co-chair and chair of the decorations committees for the 2021 International Convention in Portland, the 2022 Oregon Spring Conference at the Oregon Gardens, and now the 2023 Oregon Convention in Independence. The reasons I enjoy my membership in DKG are that it is a great opportunity for women educators to share ideas, strengthen fellowship through networking, and learn leadership skills. 
 
I have had a very busy career. I earned a BA from San Jose State in Child Development; an MS from National University in Special Education; and MA from San Jose State in School Administration ; and a Doctorate from the University of San Francisco in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Special Education. Along the way, I also earned two National  Board Certifications as an Early Childhood Generalist and became a National Board Support Provider at Stanford. In my 40 years of teaching, I have taught everything from preschool through university levels. I also spent 7 years in administrative positions in a K-8 school in San Jose and a K-12 in Oregon, as well as at the university. I taught both general education and special education. During my career, I have presented at numerous conferences, received a variety of awards, and have been published in three books. While I am retired in California, I chose to continue to teach special education in an Oregon K-5 school for one more year.
 
Despite being retired from California public schools, I still find teaching keeps me feeling involved, and I enjoy putting my doctorate to good use by continuing to give to the profession. I always find time to enjoy trips and socialize with family.

Secretary: Position Open

State Standing Committees

Finance Committee

District 4: Nancy Lessard: Alpha Omicron/

I was born in Portland, Oregon, and currently live just 30 miles out of Portland in beautiful Warren. I received my Bachelor in Elementary Education from Southern Oregon State (now SOU) in 1978 and my masters from Portland State (now PSU). My husband and I will be celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary this year. We have two daughters, one granddaughter, and three grandsons.
 
I began my career teaching Title I reading, and then taught 6th grade and middle school language arts for 18 years in Gresham. In 1998, we moved to Warren, where I taught 5th grade for 10 years and Title 1 reading for 6 years.

Being a member of DKG has given me the opportunity to give back to a career that provided a long life of personal growth and love for learning. I continue to be a DKG member to further support the professionals in my area as well as to give support to my fellow Oregon State members.

Having retired from teaching in 2014 I was drawn to volunteering in the schools and was soon honored to be asked to become a member of our local chapter. I began a member of Alpha Omicron in 2016 and have served as chapter treasurer for the past five years as well as State Finance Committee chair from 2019-2023.

District 5: Donalene Biller, Psi/5

I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and later lived in San Diego before moving to Oregon, where I attended Forest Grove High School. We lived on a small farm in Gales Creek, raising prunes and filberts. My father worked for United Airlines, and this allowed me to travel extensively during my teens. 
 
From my early childhood, I wanted to be a teacher, and Oregon College of Education (now Western Oregon University) seemed to be a perfect fit. When I obtained my teaching certificate, it was difficult to find a job so I started as a teaching assistant in Forest Grove. A year later I was hired to teach 5th grade and 42 years later I retired from Forest Grove School District. 
 
I was asked to join XI Chapter of DKG in 1981. For many years I maintained my membership but was not particularly active except for minor chapter roles. However, I valued the friends I made and the chance to share fellowship with other women educators. 
 
I volunteered to help our long-time treasurer, Martha Redman, and when she passed away, I stepped into her shoes. It seemed natural to volunteer to join the Oregon Finance Committee. I have served as Budget Controller since 2018, and it would be my pleasure to continue in that role.

District 6: Position Open

Nominations Committee

District 4: Debbie Wells, Alpha Omicron/4

I was born in Portland, OR, and graduated from Southern Oregon State College (now SOU) with a bachelor’s degree in education in 1980. I began my teaching career in St. Helens, teaching second to fourth grades. After I married my husband Tom, also a teacher, we moved to Beaverton. I continued to commute and teach in St. Helens, job share, and raised our two sons, Daniel and Jesse.
 
After 32 years, I retired from the St. Helens School District, but I wanted to continue volunteering, helping students, and supporting teachers. I was asked to create art literacy lessons and workshops for all grade levels in my school.  Many retired DKG teachers I had taught with came to volunteer.

I was honored to be asked to become a DKG member, and I have been an active member of the Alpha Omicron Chapter since 2017. I have served as chapter membership chair and chapter nomination chair. Coordinating and teaching those art literacy lessons in St. Helens Elementary Schools went so well with help from my chapter members.
 
For this biennium, I was elected to the  State Nominating Committee and am currently the chair of that committee. This committee has given me the opportunity to meet other members across Oregon. The State Nomination Committee is essential to ensure quality leadership for OSO.

District 5: Eloise Gibson, Beta Beta5

I was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. I have a BA in Secondary Education, Spanish, and History from the University of Nebraska and MA in Romance Philology from the University, where I also taught for two years.  In Oregon, after a number of years teaching Spanish and Cultural Awareness in Forest Grove, I earned an MA in Counseling Psychology from Lewis and Clark College, serving the rest of my career as a high school counselor in Forest Grove and Beaverton. 
 
My husband Scott and I have two adult children and four granddaughters.  Our daughter, who works for Planned Parenthood, and her husband live in Portland and our son, who owns a translation company, and youngest granddaughter live in Brussels, Belgium.  Our oldest granddaughter is a GP in Cardiff, Wales; the second in a dancer with companies in Brussels and in Germany; the third gran daughter is in law school at the University of Virginia; and the fourth is a fifth grader in Brussels.
 
In 2007, I was invited to join Beta Beta Chapter and have been an active member ever since. I served BB as Recording Secretary, President, Membership Chair, Historian, and First Vice-President.  I have co-chaired the Spring Tea fundraiser for our Beta Beta Education Foundation since its inception and chaired the History Committee.  Currently, I am the editor of the Beta Beta Yearbook and maintain the chapter email list. I love helping on chapter projects (garage sale, lasagna supper) and regularly attend “Ladies With Duty Free Lunch” (now that we are finally retired and can actually have a duty-free lunch!)
 
For Oregon DKG, I have helped plan State Conferences/Conventions and have attended State, Regional, and International Conventions over the years. A few years back I chaired the State Communications / Technology Committee and spearheaded changing the distribution of The New Oregon Trail digitally, rather than in paper form. (Thank you, Eloise!!)
 
Being part of the State Nominations Committee is important because we need active, innovative leadership at the State level.  I am happy to help with this commitment.

District 6: Ardeth Woods, Beta Gamma/6

I was born in Woodburn, Oregon. I attended Rural Dell School, graduating in 1951. I graduated from Molalla Union High School in 1955. I received my BS (1959) and MS in Education (1969)  from the University of Oregon. I taught 35 years in Sherman County Schools, retiring in 1994. I have been active in DKG since my induction in 1974. At the state level, I have served on Expansion, Nomination, and Research Committees and as District 6 Coordinator. At the local level, I have served in many positions in both Pi and Beta Gamma Chapters. I am currently co- president with Linda Fuellas in Beta Gamma Chapter.