Board of Directors

Kids Voting North Alaska Board of Directors is composed of community members living in Fairbanks with a belief in the value of civics education.

Amy Gallaway, Board President

"I teach so my students will save the republic."

Amy is a retired high school History and Civics teacher. As a community advocate and Alaska Teacher of the Year for 2020, Amy is both skilled at and dedicated to empowering teachers, students, and the public to reach their potential and be engaged in civics at all levels.

Tamara Kruse Roselius, Board Vice President

Diana Lingle, Board Secretary

"I think it is critical that young people learn how our government works and understand the importance of the three branches of government that provide checks and balances to one another."

Diana has been an RN for 36 years, retiring in 2014. Currently, she volunteers with Hospice, Fairbanks Arts Association, Aging at Home Fairbanks, and Kids Voting North Alaska. Her son had an excellent experience participating in We the People while he was at West Valley High School. Diana joined Kids Voting North Alaska because she believes Kids Voting can enhance students’ knowledge and enthusiasm for civic education, encouraging them to participate in our democracy as informed voters or future politicians.

Phyliss Brush, Board Treasurer

Gary Black, Board Member

Tonya Brown, Board Member

Brandy Harty, Board Member

"With decades of low voter turnout both nationally and locally, I see Kids Voting as an invaluable resource to our community, supporting informed civic participation at a young age leads to informed voting throughout a person's lifetime."

Brandy is a certified Elementary and Special Education teacher with an MEd in Special Education. She is currently serving as an elected member of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Board of Education. Brandy was born and raised in Fairbanks and is a proud product of Fairbanks public schools. She participated in Kids Voting as a child and also facilitated her own classroom participation when she taught 5th grade at Hunter Elementary. Brandy and her family enjoy getting outside and skiing, both alpine and Nordic, and going on cabin trips when possible. She is also an artist in her free time and enjoys working in her home studio on all manner of creative pursuits.

Billy Smith, Board Member

Liam Wade, Student Board Member

Sue Wilken, Board Member

Staff

Fawn Jelinek, Coordinator

"It is important to understand how our governments work at all levels and the roles that each of us has in those systems."

Fawn was a legislative aide to Alaska state legislators for several years before pursuing her vocation of teaching. Fawn served in the Peace Corps in Kiribati in the Central Pacific as a teacher trainer and taught in Quinhagak in Western Alaska. Upon returning home to Fairbanks, she worked for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District providing professional development to teachers with linguistically diverse students in their classrooms, earned an MS in Educational Administration, and worked for the Association of Interior Native Educators. Most recently, Fawn taught upper grades at Hunter Elementary for twelve years until she retired in 2022. One of her favorite parts of teaching was helping students understand the world beyond the classroom and their own power in helping make that world a better place.

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