SNOHOMISH — The Snohomish School Board now has a quorum of Panther graduates.
Sara Fagerlie, a 1988 Snohomish High graduate who once played flute in the school’s marching band, has been appointed to fill the vacancy left when longtime board member Leah Hughes-Anderson resigned in December. Two other board members — board President Jay Hagen and David Johnston — also are SHS alums.
Fagerlie, whose three children attend Snohomish schools, had thought over the years about wanting to serve on the board.
“Education has always been the cornerstone of my life,” she said.
She’d attended Emerson Elementary, the former Snohomish Junior High and SHS. She looks back to her high school calculus class as an example of solid instruction that prepared her well for college.
As an undergraduate, she earned dual degrees in mathematics and biochemistry at the University of Washington.
She later received her doctorate from Oregon Health &Science University in molecular and medical genetics. She has worked extensively in the hematology and oncology fields and spent five years with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.
Today, she works from home for a New York company, writing continuing education curricula for doctors, pharmacists and other medical professionals. Her home is next door to her parents.
“I feel really fortunate,” she said.
Fagerlie was one of two people who applied for the appointment.
The other candidate was John Budd, a Boeing worker who has two children who are students in the district. He also is president of the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County.
Hagen said both candidates were well qualified and he hopes Budd will serve on some district committees. He looks forward to adding Fagerlie to the board.
“She understands the community. She understands our voters and she will fit right in,” Hagen said. “She is a class act all the way around.”
Fagerlie has volunteered in the schools in several capacities, including as a coach for a Future Problem Solvers program and as Snohomish High swim and dive team booster club president.
“I come from a humble background, but was taught the value of hard work and the importance of education,” Fagerlie said. “I believe that all students, whether they are headed for postsecondary education or not, deserve a strong educational foundation. My hope is that every student, regardless of the school they attend or their socioeconomic background, be provided ample opportunity for success. Having an impact on the education of students in this community is extremely important to me, and a job I would not take lightly.”
The school board term is up for election later this year. Fagerlie is scheduled to be sworn into office at the Wednesday school board meeting.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.
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