Board of Directors

The Mead School Board is comprised of five directors elected at large by Mead School District voters, each for a four-year term. The list of School Board duties includes, but is not limited to, hiring the Superintendent, making decisions on property, approving contracts, authorizing bids and expenditures, approving school budgets, approving curriculum and issues related to personnel.

The Board is a legislative unit with no one member having authority unless that authority is delegated by a vote of the Board. Board business is conducted in meetings open to the public, except for matters involving property or personnel issues. It is not the job of the Board to manage schools, but rather to oversee that schools are managed well.

To find the current Director District Boundaries, click here.

Denny Denholm, President, Director District #2, denny.denholm@mead354.org
Chad Burchard, Vice-President, Director District #1, chad.burchard@mead354.org
Bob Olson, Director District #3, bob.olson@mead354.org
Michael Cannon, Director District #4, michael.cannon@mead354.org
BrieAnne Gray, Director District #5, brieanne.gray@mead354.org

Shawn Woodward, Superintendent/Secretary to the Board
465-6014 shawn.woodward@mead354.org

Click on the headings below to read more or get contact information for each board member!

Meet the School Board

Denny Denholm, President, Director District #2

Denny Denholm, President, Director District #2
465-6014 denny.denholm@mead354.org

Denny Denholm has lived in the Mead School District for more than thirty years and has been a member of the Mead School District Board of Directors since 1998. He and his wife Genia are the parents of four Mead graduates – Mark, Heidi, Camille and Corinne. Before joining the Mead School Board he was an active Mead School District volunteer. He helped with three bond campaigns and two successful levy elections. He also chaired a Boundary Review Committee, a Facilities Planning Committee and was the Midway PTO President for a number of years. Director Denholm was most recently reelected for a four-year term in November 2019.

Chad Burchard, Vice-President, Director District #1

Chad Burchard, Vice-President, Director District #1
465-6014 chad.burchard@mead354.org

Chad Burchard was the unanimous selection of the Mead School District Board of Directors to replace Maureen O’Connor, who resigned her position on March 31, 2016. Mr. Burchard, who took the Oath of Office on June 13, 2016, co-chaired the Citizen’s Advisory Committee that was instrumental in helping pass the February 2015 Facilities Improvement Bond. Chad and his wife Tammy have two daughters who graduated from Mead High School. He was elected outright to the position in November 2017 and most recently reelected for a four-year term in November 2021.

Bob Olson, Director District #3

Bob Olson, Director District #3
465-6014 bob.olson@mead354.org

Bob Olson is a retired banker. He and his wife Fran have three grown children (Joleen, Matthew and Tiffany) and six grandchildren. Before moving to Spokane several years ago Bob volunteered in the Pullman School District. He was elected to the Mead School District Board of Directors in 1985. Director Olson has a long-standing history of community involvement including association with the Mead Education Foundation, Skils-Kin (a prevocational center for the developmentally disabled) and SNEDA (an economic development alliance organization). Director Olson was most recently reelected for a four-year term in November 2019.

Michael Cannon, Director District #4

Michael Cannon, Director District #4
465-6014 michael.cannon@mead354.org

Michael Cannon was elected to represent Director District #4 in November 2019 (four-year term). Prior to joining the Mead School District Board of Directors he served as Chair of the Pride Prep Charter School Board in Spokane. Pride Prep is one of the first and most successful public charter schools in the state. A Mead parent volunteer, Michael has one son who graduated from Mead High School in 2020. Mr. Cannon is a small business owner and long-time Spokane resident. He has a lengthy history of service on numerous civic boards in the Inland NW.

BrieAnne Gray, Director District #5

BrieAnne Gray, Director District #5
465-6014 brieanne.gray@mead354.org

BrieAnne Gray was elected by Mead School District voters in November 2021 (four-year term). Drawn by the District's impeccable reputation, BrieAnne and her husband, Josh, knew they wanted their children to receive a Mead education. Throughout their time here they have been active members in the community within the schools and youth activities.

BrieAnne works in Spokane as a board certified Nurse Practitioner in women's health. As a mom of three elementary-aged children she brings a unique perspective to the board as the only member with school-aged children.