Board of Directors
Springfield Education Foundation has 16 current board members who are incredibly dedicated, hard-working, and excited about education. Our board is comprised of SPS educators, local business leaders, retirees, and other diverse members of our community who are passionate about learning, educators, and investing in Springfield’s most important asset – students!
We are currently accepting applications for enthusiastic and community-minded individuals who are interested in join our working Board of Directors.
Please click the application button below to learn more!
SEF Executive Committee
Justin Martin, Chair
Crystal McPheeters, Treasurer
Micah Adams, Member-At-Large
Cindy Whittington, Secretary
Todd Hamilton, Springfield Public Schools Superintendent
Justin Martin
SEF Board Chair
Justin joined the SEF board in 2020 and is an Associate Vice President and Portfolio Manager for the National Healthcare team at Columbia Bank. He is married to Malia, and they have two girls who attend Springfield Public Schools. Justin graduated from Western Oregon University and Pleasant Hill High School. In his free time, Justin enjoys hiking, fishing, and general outdoor activities with his family. He is also an avid Ducks fan. Justin joined SEF to promote learning and encourage enrichment activities for the youth in our community.
- Vice Chair
- Executive Committee
- Development Committee
- Programs Committe
- Night of 11,000 Stars Co-Chair
Crystal McPheeters
Treasurer
Crystal joined the board in 2021. She previously served on the Ridgeview PTO board for 5 years and is currently the Thurston Middle School PTSA treasurer. She attended the University of Oregon, receiving a bachelor of science degree in general science, and recently completed an associate degree in accounting from Lane Community College.
Crystal comes from a long line of educators, who instilled a love of learning and the importance of an education. After volunteering in elementary classrooms throughout high school and college, she has seen firsthand how much time, energy, and caring teachers put into their students and classrooms. By joining the board, Crystal hopes to help educators inspire even more students.
Crystal is married to Scott. Together they have three children who all attend Springfield schools. When not working or volunteering, she likes to bake, play video and board games with her family, walk her dogs, and read.
- Programs & Grants Committee
- Night of 11,000 Stars Committee
Micah Adams
Member-at-Large
Micah Adams has served on the SEF Board of Directors since 2012. He was Chair of the 2018 Night of 11,000 Stars Committee. By day, Micah is a commercial banker at Summit Bank. He was raised in Springfield and graduated from the University of Oregon with a BS in Business Administration. Micah is married to Jennifer, whom he met in 7th grade Home Economics at Springfield Middle School. Their daughter is a Senior at Thurston. He joined SEF to help improve education in our community. When he isn’t volunteering, he likes to cook/grill, golf, snowboard, and hike/backpack. He attended two SPS schools that no longer exist, Moffitt Elementary and Springfield Middle Schools.
- Member-at-Large
- Executive Committee
- Development Committee Chair
- Night of 11,000 Stars Committee Committee
Cindy Whittington
Secretary
Cindy joined the SEF Board 2017 and serves on various SEF Committees, including as Chair of the Programs Committee. She is a retired McDonald’s owner/operator with her husband, Mark, and a member of the Ronald McDonald House Advisory Board. Her passion for travel is second only to her passion for education.
- Secretary
- Executive Committee
- Programs & Grants Committee Chair
- Night of 11,000 Stars Committee
Todd Hamilton
Springfield Public Schools Superintendent
Todd Hamilton, Springfield Public Schools Superintendent, joined the SEF Board in 2019. Previously, he was the longtime superintendent in Creswell, where he developed a passion for supporting teachers in honing their craft. Since 1995, Todd has held an array of educational roles, including in the classroom, instructional technology, student services, and curriculum and staff development. In this time, he helped expand programs across the K–12 continuum, including early learning programs, college-level courses, and CTE programming. He also supported a number of community partnerships aimed at addressing the social, emotional, and learning needs of students. In addition to his work with SEF, Todd serves as a member of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Connected Lane County coalition, the Early Learning Alliance, and advisory boards for the University of Oregon and Northwest Christian University. Todd is committed to a shared vision of success and support across the district, ensuring a system of schools that is welcoming, encouraging, and supportive of everyone.
- Springfield Public Schools Superintendent
- Executive Committee
- Development Committee
Travis Joseph
Immediate Past Chair
Travis Joseph is a fifth-generation Oregonian and graduate of Centennial Elementary, Hamlin Middle, and Springfield High. He joined the SEF Board in 2017 and served as the SEF Board Chair from 2021-2023. As President and C.E.O. of the American Forest Resource Council, Travis works to represent the forest products industry throughout the Pacific Northwest. Prior to working with AFRC, Travis was a senior policy advisor for Congressman Peter DeFazio in Washington, D.C. working on natural resources and transportation issues. Travis joined SEF because of his passion for education and its ability to change lives. He looks forward to helping pass on the support he received in his education to our current Springfield students. Travis holds degrees from the University of Oregon and the London School of Economics.
- Immediate Past Board Chair
- Executive Committee
- Development Committee
Timothy (Tim) Leahy
Tim Leahy was born and raised in Springfield, a graduate of Centennial Elementary, Hamlin Middle, and Springfield High. After graduating in 1998, Tim attended Linfield College for one year, and then transferred to the University of Oregon where he earned a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology with a Certificate in Leadership and Communication in 2003. Tim went on to start a career in banking and now works as the Small Business Program Manager at Northwest Community Credit Union.
Tim lives in Springfield with his wife Stephanie and their daughter Eliana. Stephanie has been in education for almost 18 years, the last 6 years with SPS. Stephanie is currently a Special Education teacher at Walterville Elementary School. Eliana will be in the fourth grade this fall at St. Paul Catholic School, and is involved in dance, soccer, and basketball in Springfield. Tim has supported SEF for over eight years, recently as a member of the Marketing/Alumni Committee, and as of July 1st, as a SEF Board Member. Tim is grateful to have the opportunity to serve on the SEF Board, and looks forward to helping Springfield Public Schools continue to enhance their programs and give teachers the needed funding for their classrooms and their students.
- Marketing Committee
- Night of 11,000 Stars Committee
Stephanie Lovdokken
Stephanie Lovdokken joined the SEF Board in 2021. Although Stephanie is a new addition to the board, she began volunteering with Night of 11,000 Stars in 2015. She has been a teacher for 21 years, with 20 years in the Springfield School district, and currently teaches fifth grade at Ridgeview Elementary School. Stephanie also enjoys working with teachers, staff, and families as the SPS Talented and Gifted (TAG) program coordinator. A Springfield native, Stephanie attended Ridgeview, Thurston Middle School, and Thurston High School. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from George Fox University and her Masters of Education Curriculum Instruction and Design from Pacific University. Since 2017, she has been on the Education Consortium Team at Bushnell University working to inspire future teachers. She joined the SEF Board as she is passionate about supporting teaching and students throughout the district to make learning fun and engaging.
Stephanie is married to her husband John, also a Springfield native and history teacher at THS. They have a daughter and a son who also attend THS sophomore and a junior. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys volunteering as a high school leader at FBC, being a senior and ambassador girl scout leader, and being a team mom for Thurston Cabaret. When she isn’t volunteering, she values spending time with her family playing board games, hiking, biking, and going on new adventures.
- Programs & Grants Committee
- Night of 11,000 Stars Committee
Todd Mann
Todd Mann is a Springfield Oregon Native who returned home after spending a decade living and teaching abroad. Todd and his wife own and run the #1 Financial Planning business in town, Todd Mann Financial Services. Along with the Springfield Education Foundation Board, Todd also serves the community as a member of the Springfield School Board of Directors, the Springfield Public Library Foundation Board, the Springfield Chamber’s Education Committee, Leadership Eugene Springfield’s Steering Committee, and until recently the Lane Council of Governments’ Board. Todd spends much of his free time with his amazing children Lana and Paul including coaching Lana’s AYSO soccer team.
- Finance & Governance Committee
Isaac Rhoads-Dey
Isaac joined the SEF Board in 2023. He is a Realtor at ICON Real Estate Group who’s passionate about working with clients to fit their housing to their lifestyle. He has been helping sellers maximize the value of their homes quickly and painlessly, and buyers find their dream homes since 2008. Before beginning his work in real estate sales, he worked in residential construction and property management. Isaac has previously held several positions on the board of directors at the Springfield Realtors, including serving as the 2020 President.
Originally from Eugene, Isaac attended Churchill High School and completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the University of Oregon in 2007. He enjoys remodeling, entertaining, and growing tropical plants.
Isaac is excited to serve the Springfield Education Foundation because he loves Springfield and wants to help our community thrive through helping our students and schools.
- Development Committee
Terry Scherer
After graduating from Oregon College of Education (now Western Oregon University) Terry taught for 12 years before completing her degree in Counseling at Oregon State. She then spent her last 18 years of a 30 year career in education as a school counselor, her last 18 being with Springfield Public Schools. She joined the SEF Board in 2016 and volunteered on the Programs Committee before that. Terry became involved with SEF because of her strong personal and professional connections to Springfield Public Schools. She and her husband attended Springfield High School, and their children attended Springfield Public Schools. A Springfield native, Terry lived only a few blocks from her husband, Robert, while they were growing up, but did not meet him until they were adults. In addition to being an avid reader, she enjoys outdoor sports, including tennis, snow skiing, and whitewater rafting.
- Programs & Grants Committee
- Night of 11,000 Stars Committee
Patty Schulz
Patty Schulz joined the SEF Board of Directors in 2022 and is Vice President and Senior Commercial Relationship Manager with Banner Bank. She is married to Terry and they have one son that attended Springfield Public Schools. Patty is a Board Member of Springfield Rotary and has previously served on the Board of Junior Achievement along with the Springfield Chamber’s Education Committee. In her free time, Patty enjoys outdoor activities with her husband and dogs, including running and hiking.
- Programs & Grants Committee
- Night of 11,000 Stars Committee
Erik Vos
Erik J. Vos joined the SEF Board of Directors in 2017. He is CFO of Timber Products Company and has spent nearly thirty years in the wood products industry. Erik comes from a family of educators and grew up learning to give back to the community. He believes that education is key in solving local, state, national, and global challenges. Erik is an avid tennis player and fan, having developed a passion for the sport early by competing competitively starting at ten years old. In addition to his work with SEF, Erik is a volunteer for SMART (Start Making A Reader Today), a former Board Chair of FOOD for Lane County, and a former board member of Eugene Swim & Tennis Club.
- Finance & Governance Committee
Kelli Warner
Kelli Warner is Public Relations Manager for Turell Group and has served on the SEF Board and Marketing Committee since 2015. A native Oregonian and mother of two Springfield students, Kelli earned a Bachelor’s in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Oregon, an education that fueled her passion for storytelling. She spent 20 years as an award-winning TV newscaster and reporter and is now an Amazon-bestselling author, writing young adult novels full of humor, heart, and happy endings.
- Marketing & Communication Committee
- Night of 11,000 Stars Committee
John Wheeler
John was born and raised in Coburg, Oregon, where he resides still today. After graduating high school from Sheldon, he joined the U.S Navy and met the mother of his children in Pensacola Florida. He has three amazing daughters, Juliette, Isabelle, and Emilia. While in Florida 30 years he worked as a General Manager for a pizza franchise where he opened restaurants from Pensacola Florida throughout the East Coast States. From there he got into his career path and became a Mortgage Professional in 2003. In 2006 he started working at a High School in Bradenton Florida as an Exceptional Student Education liaison, and coach. There he coached basketball and tennis for 6 years while also doing mortgages. In 2010, he stopped teaching and stayed in the mortgage field where he still adventures today.
John loves the outdoors and is an avid hunter and fisherman. At 16 John started coaching basketball his true passion and gift. He coaches in Harrisburg, Eugene, and Springfield areas currently. John also has passion helping children in need. His nonprofit, Wheelers Shoes for Hoopz, raises funds and donations of athletic equipment for those who may not be able to play on the game field because of financial hardship. John also has an LLC, Wheeler UP-N-GO mobile Notary and works for Harry Ritchie’s Jewelers as a Credit Analyst. As a member of Rotary, and both Eugene and Springfield Chambers of Commerce, he is here to be of service to our local community and loves to lend a hand to those in need. With strong faith and perseverance, he hopes to make a difference for years to come.
- Marketing Committee
- Night of 11,000 Stars Committee
