- Hood River County School District
- Board Members
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Board Members
Each board member works with the other members of the board and in partnership with the superintendent who carries out the board’s vision and direction. Decision-making authority is vested in the school board as a whole. Individual proposals are adopted only when a majority of the board approves them.
You may contact the entire board by sending an email to hrcsd.board@hoodriver.k12.or.us
Position Name Email Address Term Expiration Position 1 Chrissy Reitz chrissy.reitz@hoodriver.k12.or.us June 2027 Position 2 Barb Hosford barb.hosford@hoodriver.k12.or.us June 2025 Position 3 Corinda Hankins Elliott corinda.hankins-elliott@hoodriver.k12.or.us June 2027 Position 4 Julia Garcia-Ramirez julia.garcia-ramirez@hoodriver.k12.or.us June 2025 Position 5 David Stuben david.stuben@hoodriver.k12.or.us June 2027 Position 6 Brandi Sheppard brandi.sheppard@hoodriver.k12.or.us June 2025 Member At Large Jen Kelly jen.kelly@hoodriver.k12.or.us June 2025 Hood River County School District school board members are elected from seven geographical areas, or zones, to provide equal representation throughout the school district. However, all elected board members represent the entire school district, not their zone. This map represents the school board zones. The school board zones with street details may be found on the County Public WebMap by clicking on "School Board Districts" on the right hand side.
Three positions will be voted on in the May 2025 Special Election: positions 2, 4, 6, and at large. Please see the Hood River County - Elections page for more details. The filing period is between February 2025 to March 2025 at 5pm. (Exact dates will be provided once published.)
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Chrissy Reitz, position 1, chair
Chrissy Reitz and her husband Max moved to Hood River almost 19 years ago. Chrissy was born in Mississippi but has lived all over the world as an "Air Force Brat." She graduated from Air Academy High School in Colorado Springs and then attended the University of Colorado in Boulder. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in biology from Colorado University, she went on to the University of Kansas School of Nursing. There she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a strong emphasis on Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU). After working for a year in Kansas City in the NICU, she married Max and they moved to Oregon. She continued her nursing career in several of the NICUs in Portland. After four years, the allure of the mountains and all the fun they hold brought them to Hood River. They have two children, Joe and Jill. Joe graduated from Hood River Valley High School in spring 2022 and Jill is going to be a junior in the 2022-23 school year. Chrissy stays active in Hood River by trail running, paddle-boarding, XC skiing, hiking and playing pickleball. All of which she prefers to do in the company of friends and her family. Twelve years ago she founded the Gorge Kids Triathlon, which occurs every September drawing 300+ kids and their families to the Hood River Waterfront Park to swim, bike, and run. She is proud of her service to the students, families, and staff of the HRCSD over the last six years and humbled by how much she has learned.
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Barb Hosford, position 2
Oregon Secondary Educator (31)Centennial School District and Hood River County School DistrictPhysical Education (31)Health Pathway Career Teacher (12)Sports Medicine, First Response School to Work Specialist & Future Health Professional Advisor (10)Board member,North East Oregon Area Health Education Center (NEOAHEC), (7) Promoting rural Oregon Health Education grades 6-12+OSAA Women’s Track and Field Coach (2)OSAA Women’s Varsity Valleyball Coach (14)OSAA Women’s Varsity Tennis Coach (21)Oregon Sports Leadership Network Member (20)Education: MAT Physical Education,Lewis and Clark College, BS Oregon State University:Physical Education Statement from Barb Hosford: "Opportunity is hope and courage, for students and families; I thank the voters of Hood River County for electing me to serve as an elected school board member. We must never underestimate the power of connection and opportunity. Stay connected to family and friends. Support one another and increase your awareness around you. I support the HRCSD vision: Excellence. Every Student. Every Day." -
Dr. Corinda Hankins Elliot, position 3
Dr. Corinda Hankins Elliott moved to Hood River about 17 years ago with her husband John. They have three children - their oldest Lucas, just entering sophomore year at HRVHS, and daughters Kylin and Alyra, in 8th grade at HRMS and 5th grade at May Street respectively. She is originally from Indiana where she was raised by two chemistry professors. Corinda attended university at Washington and Lee in Virginia and played soccer all four years. She also enjoyed a year of study at Oxford University. She was a Freshman Biology teacher at a small school in Virginia for one year between college and medical school and discovered just how hard a job it was to be a teacher. Corinda traveled back to Indiana to attend Medical School and journeyed to Africa to study medicine during that time. She crossed the country to attend University of Arizona for Pediatric Residency. It was there that she met her husband John. When John found his perfect job here (he loves windsurfing), she left her fellowship in Pediatric pulmonary medicine in Chicago to follow him.
Since she moved to Hood River she has been working with our local children. She has worked as a primary pediatrician in the area via MCMC in The Dalles and now at One Community Health where she enjoys taking care of our community’s children and helps as a teacher for the Family Practice Residents. She has also continued as a part-time pediatric hospitalist at Randall-Children’s Hospital. She has been actively involved in volunteering in the community through soccer, her local PTO/ Boosters, OBOB, and Robotics. She feels strongly that each child should have the best opportunities possible to achieve all that they can in their local academic setting. She has enjoyed being a part of the school board since 2006 and she hopes to continue to further the work of equity in academics in the future. Corinda loves to read, ski, play soccer, travel and be with her family and friends. -
Julia Garcia-Ramirez, position 4
Julia Garcia-Ramirez is originally from Mexico City; she moved to the United States following her mother and siblings who decided to move to the state of Virginia. It was her husband, Manuel, who brought her to Hood River when they got married. Julia has a son who graduated from Hood River Valley High School in 2020. As a Hood River County School District parent and member of the community, Julia has a great interest in education and the success of the students in the Hood River County School District. Julia strongly believes in high quality education and equitable opportunities for all students. Julia feels honored to represent the Odell community on the HRCSD Board of Directors. Since she moved to Hood River, she has been keenly advocating and supporting students and families through her work in diverse groups and agencies in Hood River County.
Professionally, Julia holds a Law degree from Mexico and a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education Administration from the United States. She works for Mid-Columbia Children's Council, Inc. as the Hood River County Area Manager. In her time off Julia likes to spend time with her family traveling, playing with her dogs, swimming, gardening, shopping, etc.
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David Stuben, position 5
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Brandi Sheppard, position 6
Brandi Sheppard, a resident of Hood River for more than 14 years, is the mother of three boys who attend school in the Hood River Valley. Owen (10th grade) and Ethan (9th grade) will both attend HRVHS in the fall and Colin will be in the 6th grade at Hood River Middle School. Born and raised in Coos Bay, OR, Brandi has always called the state of Oregon home. She attended Oregon State University where she was on the dance team. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in human development and family studies. Brandi joined Fred Meyer as an assistant buyer in boys clothing and in time worked into one of the lead women’s clothing buyer positions—managing an annual, $30 million budget. During her 10 years at Fred Meyer, Brandi frequently traveled to New York, Hong Kong and Taiwan, sourcing materials, styles and trends for new fashion lines.
As life changed and a family was born, Brandi moved to Hood River where she would raise her family and work at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital. Now responsible for Providence’s Hood River’s Caregiver Campaign, foundation events, hospital volunteers, and buying for the gift shop. Brandi still finds time to actively participate in the education of her three sons. She has been a two-year volunteer on the Education Foundation, coached soccer and helped volunteer at school events. She feels strongly that a supportive community, paired with a strong academic program and a setting that encourages adventure, is ideal for raising children and is excited about cultivating that even more in her position on the school board. In her time off, Brandi enjoys traveling, biking, reading, and being outdoors with her family and friends.
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Jen Kelly, at large member
Jen Kelly was appointed in 2021 to the Hood River County School District Board. She serves on the Financial Advisory Committee and Bond Oversight and the K-12 SEL Curriculum Adoption Committee
1) Why did you decide to run for a position on the Hood River County school board?
Running for the board is the next logical step for me having actively participated in a number of board and district related efforts. I regularly attend school board meetings and am familiar with issues pertaining to the district. I have developed positive working relationships with existing board members and been diligently working with district administration on issues related to instruction during the pandemic. I was a member of the Ready Schools Safe Learners planning committee, The May Street Elementary School Site Council, I have become familiar with board processes, procedures, and policies and have voluntarily completed board member trainings to help come to workable solutions for everyone.
2) What is your background/profession, and where do you live?
I have lived in Hood River for 25 years and raised two girls in the Hood River School District; currently I have a senior and a freshman at the Hood River Valley High School. I have an M.S. in Fisheries Science from Penn State University, and a B.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan. I have spent my professional career working in various analytical positions in electric utility industry and alongside IBEW union members. In my free time, I love to watch my girls play sports, run, backpack, hike, travel and ski.
3) What will your top priorities be if voters select you to serve on the board?
Responsiveness: I’m committed to being responsive to everyone in the district. Constituents will hear back from me.
Genuine Input: Strengthen existing opportunities for receiving input on topics that matter most to parents. Constituent’s opinions matter.
Innovation: Maintain an active commitment to working with administrators and educators to “get to yes” on issues facing the district. I will think outside the box.
Balancing all Sides: Maintain room for constructive and thoughtful feedback. I will hear and listen to alternative views.
Engagement: I’ll be dedicated to understanding problems and digging in to solve them. I will put in the time.
4) What changes do you think the district needs to make?
Focus: we’ve all been distracted by a variety of demands and challenges (not just pandemic related) and I’d like for teachers and kids to be able to refocus on what they are in school to do; focus on rigorous academics for kids at all levels of achievement.