School Board members - St. Anthony - New Brighton School District

Meet your board

The St. Anthony-New Brighton School District has a School Board consisting of six members, each elected for a four-year term. Learn more about the board's role and responsibilities.

Laura Oksnevad
Chair
612-788-9527
loksnevad@isd282.org

Bio
Committee assignments

Bio

Laura Oksnevad was elected to the St. Anthony-New Brighton School Board in November 2013. Laura and her husband, Bjorn, have lived in St. Anthony Village since 2011 and have two children, Sonja (class of 2026) and Elise (class of 2028). She is an active volunteer in the Wilshire Park Parent Association, District 282 Wellness Committee and Nativity Lutheran Church. Laura has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and Public Health Nurse certificate from the University of Minnesota. Laura is currently a stay at home parent and community volunteer. Her prior work experience includes Labor and Delivery Nursing as well as clinic work as a Prenatal Nurse Educator.

Committee assignments

Dr. Cassandra Palmer
Vice Chair
612-788-1966
cpalmer@isd282.org

Bio
Committee assignments

Bio

Dr. Cassandra Palmer was elected to the School Board and began her four-year term in January 2016. Dr. Palmer and her husband Chris have lived in St. Anthony for over a decade and their sons attend St. Anthony Middle School and Wilshire Park Elementary School. Dr. Palmer, a surgeon who practices at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, recognizes one of the top challenges facing our school district is decreasing the academic achievement gap between white students and students of color. "We need to have kindergarteners ready for school on their first day with equal opportunity and equal access," Palmer said. Through her personal and professional experience, Dr. Palmer also encourages the study of S.T.E.M--Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—for all students, with a particular emphasis on young women.

Committee assignments

Ben Phillip
Clerk
612-217-4724
bphillip@isd282.org

Bio
Committee assignments

Bio

Ben Phillip was elected to the St. Anthony-New Brighton School Board in January of 2020. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Higher Education with an Adult Education specialty. Ben works at Summit Academy OIC, a vocational school in North Minneapolis, where he leads and manages a program to get underrepresented adults, primarily African Americans and women, into the IT industry. Having worked in higher education and IT for over 20 years, Ben has a firm understanding of the successes and struggles that affect educational institutions. For a number of years, Ben has been involved with the World’s Best Workforce. He has also helped with issues of equity and adverse childhood experiences through the St. Anthony Villagers for Equity and Community and Family Services Collaborative. He volunteers in the community, in association with the Wilshire Park Parents Association, and has coached and kept stats for various teams through the St. Anthony Boosters. Outside of St. Anthony, Ben is a board member for his high school alma mater, Minneapolis Roosevelt. Ben and his wife Laura have lived in St. Anthony Village since 2004 and have three children, Xander, Linden and Brannock, who attend St. Anthony-New Brighton schools.

Committee assignments

Lynne Penke Valdes
Treasurer
612-735-1756
lpenkevaldes@isd282.org

Bio
Committee assignments

Bio

Lynne Penke Valdes was elected to the St. Anthony-New Brighton School Board in January of 2020. She has worked in public service over the past 20 years, and is currently leading youth education strategies for Hennepin County. Lynn also teaches adult learners at Metropolitan State University. She was a member of the Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) Parent Advisory Council; participated as a community member in strategic planning processes and equity work at St. Anthony-New Brighton; a member of St. Anthony-New Brighton Education Foundation (SANBE), as well as the Community Fund. In addition, she is a certified Spanish interpreter. Lynne and her husband Alef have lived in St. Anthony Village since 2004 and have two children, Sofia and Stella who attend St. Anthony-New Brighton schools.

Committee assignments

Leah Slye
Director
612-781-3982
leahslye@isd282.org

Bio
Committee assignments

Bio

Committee assignments

Barry Kinsey
Director
612-789-1493
bkinsey@i sd282.org

Bio
Committee assignments

Bio

Barry has been on the St. Anthony-New Brighton school board since 1990 and during that time has served as Chair, Vice-Chair, and Treasurer. Barry has also been active in education outside the district. He was a founding board member of the Joint Powers Board of the West Metro Education Program (WMEP) and spent several years as the district's representative to the Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD) where he served on and chaired the AMSD Executive Committee. Barry and his wife Bernice Kuure have lived in St. Anthony since 1985 and have three children who attended St. Anthony-New Brighton Schools. In 1997, Barry was named St. Anthony Villager of the Year. Barry is an independent marketing consultant.