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About the Board
The ACSD Board is made of, and elected by, citizens of Bridport, Cornwall, Middlebury, Ripton, Salisbury, Shoreham, and Weybridge, and is responsible for ensuring the education and welfare of the children of member towns in its District schools. Each board member is elected at large, and therefore represents the interests of all students in the District (not just the town in which they live).
The founding vision of the ACSD Board is that all students will meet their full academic potential and be prepared for success as engaged citizens. It is the Board’s responsibility to set goals, conduct high-level planning, establish policy, and allocate resources in support of this vision, as well as provide oversight and develop monitoring systems to track progress. And as a public entity, the Board must engage the community in its work.
The Board hires, supervises, and evaluates the Superintendent, who is responsible for the operation of all District schools. So while the Board sets priorities and guides the Superintendent and his or her administration in their work, it does not manage day-to-day school operations. To learn more about the essential work of school boards, please visit the Vermont School Board Association website.
The ACSD Board currently has five committees to support its work; Communications and Engagement, Facilities, Finance, Negotiations, and Policy Committees. Information about each committee can be found on our Board Committees page.
Board member biographies and email addresses can be found below. To contact the board by phone you can call 802-382-1700,
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ACSD Board Members
Last | First | Committee Assignments | Term Expiration | |
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Bauer | Brian | Facilities | bbauer@acsdvt.org | 3/2025 |
Buck | Suzanne | Policy/Negotiations | sbuck@acsdvt.org | 3/2023 |
Doria | Joanna | Policy | joannadoria@acsdvt.org | 3/2025 |
Hescock | Lindsey | Policy | lhescock@acsdvt.org | 3/2024 |
Malcolm | James | Facilities / Finance | jmalcolm@acsdvt.org | 3/2025 |
McCallum | Jamie | Policy/Negotiations | jmccallum@acsdvt.org | 3/2025 |
Noble | Mary Heather | Communications & Engagement | mnoble@acsdvt.org | 3/2024 |
Orzech | Steve | Finance/Negotiations | sorzech@acsdvt.org | 3/2025 |
Wilson | Barbara | Facilities | bwilson@acsdvt.org | 3/2024 |
Allen | Tricia | Communications & Engagement | triciaallen@acsdvt.org | 3/2026 |
Chance | Jason | Finance/Facilities | jchance@acsdvt.org | 3/2026 |
Whelan-Wuest | Ellen | Facilities | ewhelan-wuest@acsdvt.org | 3/2024 |
Romp | Ellie | Communications & Engagement | eromp@acsdvt.org | 3/2026 |

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Tricia Allen
Tricia Allen was born and raised in VT. She holds degrees in English and Psychology as well as a Masters in Library Science with school library certification. For six years Tricia worked as Assistant Youth Librarian before taking over as the head of the department in Salem, MA. When Tricia’s oldest child was approaching school age, the Allen family decided to move back to Vermont and Tricia jumped at the chance to serve as the Ilsley Public Library’s Youth Services Librarian. 10 years later, Tricia and her family count themselves as lucky to be living, working, and serving in such a supportive community.
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Brian Bauer
Brian Bauer moved to Middlebury in 1969 after teaching physics and chemistry in Connecticut. He taught physical and life sciences in 7th and 8th grades at MUMs for 32 years. He earned an BS in education from the University of Illinois, MS in Education from Antioch College and a 6th year Certificate in Education and Business Administration from the University of Vermont. He and his wife, Marion, raised their three children in Middlebury. He spent several summers as an auxiliary State Police Officer primarily patrolling area lakes. He chaired the Zoning Board and is currently serving on the Tax Abatement Board, Board of Civil Authority, and as a Justice of the Peace. After retiring from teaching, Brian continued his interest in property management and real estate as a Realtor. He continues his contact with kids as a school bus driver for sporting events and other extra-curricular activities. When not working in the community, he continues his love of running and winter hiking and covers the back country trails of the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks.

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Suzanne Buck
Suzanne Buck of Bridport has served on the ACSD Board since its creation in 2016, and also serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Hannaford Career Center. Suzanne is serving her second term on the ACSD Board, and is a member of the Policy & Governance Committee. Suzanne grew up in a small farming community in rural New Hampshire, and applies that community spirit and farming work ethic to all of her public service. She holds degrees in Dairy Management and Occupational Education from the University of New Hampshire, as well as a Masters degree in Special Education. Suzanne and her husband raised their two children in Vermont. During that time she worked as a special educator and education leader. She has served on local school boards for over 10 years and continues to contribute to the community through her service work for the Hannaford Career Center, 4-H, and the FFA.
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Jason Chance
Jason was elected to the ACSD board in 2023. He grew up in East Wallingford, VT and graduated from Mill River Union High School in North Clarendon. In 1999, he earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering from Tufts University. After graduation, he served two years as a high school math teacher in the U.S. Peace Corps in West Africa, where he met his wife, Nicole. They settled in Addison County in 2002 and have lived in Middlebury since 2003. They have two children in the ACSD. Jason works in Information Technology and earned a Master’s in Business Administration from the Isenberg School of Management in 2017. He enjoys gardening, cooking, snowboarding, basketball, and mountain biking.

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Joanna Doria
Joanna Doria was elected to the ACSD Board in 2022. She lives in Ripton with her husband, two kiddos, and a variety of beloved farm animals, including 18 chickens and four goats. Joanna currently works as an administrator for the North Branch School. Prior to living in Vermont, Joanna worked domestically and abroad teaching both Chinese and English to students of all ages. She enjoys (and is looking forward to) traveling, working on her family’s homestead, and volunteering in the community.
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Lindsey Hescock
Lindsey Hescock has served on the ACSD Board since 2021. She was a member of the Policy & Governance Committee during her first year (2021-2022) and the Communications & Engagement Committee for two years (2021-2023). Lindsey grew up in southeastern CT, frequently visiting Addison County to spend time with her family in Shoreham. She moved to Vermont in 2001. Lindsey attended Bates College, studying abroad in France and Jamaica. She transferred to the University of Connecticut, earning a B.A. Magna Cum Laude and receiving their highest undergraduate honor of “University Scholar”. She attended Southern New Hampshire University, where she completed 3 years of graduate coursework in Counseling Psychology. Her internships and academic work were focused on children, adolescents, and people with developmental disabilities. Lindsey works at a local long term care facility, coordinating community life and enhanced services for her residents. She has been teaching movement, trick hula hooping, and fitness classes for over 15 years. For almost a decade, she has led the Bristol Recreation Department gymnastics program. Lindsey has served on the Board of Directors of the Special Olympics of Vermont and Mt. Independence State Historic Site. She currently volunteers for ACSD at Mary Hogan School and with the Middlebury Elementary School Association (MESA). She has also volunteered for the Middlebury Recreation Department, Middlebury Area Little League, Otter Creek Child Center, Speak Up! Addison County, and Green Mountain Self Advocates. Lindsey lives in Middlebury with her 11 year old son, 2 cats, 2 leopard geckos, and several fish. She enjoys supporting her son’s athletic and artistic pursuits, spending time with family and friends, and doing outdoor activities such as mountain biking, skiing, kayaking, and hiking. She also makes time for planning events, creating art, gardening, yoga, reading, cooking, and baking.
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James “Chip” Malcolm
James “Chip” Malcolm of Middlebury has been on the ACSD Board since 2016, and previously served on the UD3 Board from 1985-2000, including six years as Board Chair. During those years, MUMS was built and MUHS underwent significant rehabilitation. He is currently serving his second term on the unified Board, chairs the Finance Committee, and is also a member of the Facilities Committee. Chip has a B.A. from Williams College, and obtained his M.D. from the University of Virginia. He practiced OB-Gyn at Porter Hospital from 1975 until his retirement in 2014. He and his wife Nancy have lived in the same house in Middlebury since 1975. Their three children graduated from MUHS and all returned to Addison and Chittenden Counties after finishing college. Chip also currently serves as the President of the Board for the Opera Company of Middlebury.

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Jamie McCallum
Jamie McCallum began his first term on the ACSD Board in 2022. He’s a professor of sociology at Middlebury College, where his research and teaching focus on labor and work issues, American politics, social movements, and public health. He's also taught throughout the CUNY public schools in New York City. His son attends Weybridge school, and he is active on the Friends of Weybridge Elementary group. In his spare time, Jamie’s a volunteer firefighter, an Executive Board member of the Rights and Democracy Institute, and sells his own home grown artisanal hot sauces from a backyard garden. He's from Bethlehem, PA, where he was raised by a writer and a second grade teacher.

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Mary Heather Noble
Mary Heather Noble of Middlebury was elected to the ACSD Board in 2021 and is serving her first term. She is a member of the Facilities Committee and currently chairs the Communications and Engagement Committee. Mary Heather is an environmental scientist, community volunteer, and writer whose work is often influenced by her former career as an environmental regulator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in geology from The Ohio State University, a master’s degree in environmental science from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and a master of fine arts degree in creative writing from the University of Southern Maine. Mary Heather has two daughters at MUHS, and has volunteered with ACSD, the Middlebury Elementary School Association, Everybody Wins!, Girls on the Run, WomenSafe, and the Better Middlebury Partnership. In her free time, you can find her cheering her kids on in their activities, leading writing workshops, running, skiing, gardening, and otherwise enjoying all the outdoor opportunities that Vermont has to offer.

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Steve Orzech
Steve Orzech served on the MUMS/MUHS board in 2015 and was elected to the ACSD Board in 2016. He has served on the Finance committee. After a brief break in 2019, he was re-elected in 2022. Originally trained as a Computer Systems Analyst where he worked for five years, Steve switched to Social Studies education in 1992 and has never looked back. He recently retired as a secondary school teacher of Technology and Social Studies with experience ranging from the middle grades to high school seniors and spanning many states and Brazil. With an A.A.S. and B.S. Computer Information Systems from Purdue University and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Virginia, Steve’s formal education spans both the STEM and Humanities curricula. Originally a native of Indiana, he has lived and travelled widely before settling here in Middlebury in 2009 with his wife and youngest son, now a graduate of Mary Hogan, MUMS, MUHS and PAHCC ART technical program. Steve can often be found walking around Middlebury or hiking the TAM with his Entlebucher Swiss Mountain dog, Circe (no she doesn’t have “some Beagle in her”)
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Ellie Romp
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Barbara Wilson
Barbara Wilson was elected to the ACSD Board in 2021, and has lived in Shoreham for over twelve years. She is serving her first term, and is a member of the Finance and Negotiations Committees. Barb grew up on a small dairy farm in Michigan and graduated with a B.S. in Secondary Education and Mathematics from Michigan State University. She spent 38 years working for a large telecommunications software development company in New Jersey, where she designed, implemented and deployed engineering support software. Upon moving to Shoreham, Barb started a small fruit farm where she grows berries, peaches, and other fruits to make value added specialty products, such as jam and sorbet. Barb is a member of the Middlebury Farmers’ Market and Rights and Democracy, where she currently serves on the Board of Directors. She is also a member of the Shoreham School Community Partnership Committee and has volunteered at the school in a special 2nd grade reading program where students read to her dog, Java. Barb lives with her husband, George, and enjoys the outdoors -- whether it be working on her small farm, hiking, biking, kayaking, sailing, cross country skiing, or sledding on her awesome hill.

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Ellen Whelan-Wuest
Ellen Whelan-Wuest was appointed to the ACSD board in 2023. She is a program director at a national nonprofit that works with states across the country to leverage data and research to improve & reform their criminal justice policies and systems. Ellen grew up in Chicago and attended Middlebury College where she met her husband, Conor Stinson, who grew up in Cornwall and graduated from MUHS. Ellen and Conor lived in several places after college but always hoped to raise their family in Addison County. Happily, they moved back in 2017 and now have two kids, including a proud first grader at the Cornwall school. Ellen received her BA from Middlebury College and her Masters in Public Policy from Duke University, and she has worked in politics and local government in Chicago, Brooklyn and Durham, North Carolina. Ellen is co-chair of the board for WomenSafe, vice chair of the Cornwall Development Review Board, and the chair of the interim board for the (soon to open) Red Clover Children’s Center. Ellen has also been a member of the ACSD Community Partnership Council and the Church Council for the UCC Congregational Church of Middlebury. Ellen loves her family, reading & writing, spending time with her friends and her sisters, traveling to new places, and being of service to her community
Student Board Members
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Narges Anzali
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