AUGUSTA — Governor Paul R. LePage has appointed John Bird, of Rockland, and Wilson Hess, of Freedom, to the Maine Board of Education, both for five-year terms. The appointments were part of an annual board process.

In addition to his long career in the field of education, Bird currently serves on the boards of the Strand Theater, Penobscot Bay YMCA and the Island Institute, and he is a member of the Maine Charter Schools Commission. Bird is a graduate of Rockland High School class of 1955. He holds B.A. in political science from Bowdoin and a masters in school administration from George Washington University.

Hess is the former president of the University of Maine at Fort Kent. During his tenure at UMFK, Hess was an advocate for expanding access to college courses for high school students throughout the state, perhaps best known for his success in expanding early college access through the Bridge Year program and AP4ALL.

Outside of the educational arena, Hess has coached and refereed lacrosse, served on boards such as the Maine Conservation School in Bryant Pond, the Maine Children's Alliance, the Maine Charitable Foundation's Waldo County Fund, the Town of Freedom's Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee, the Northern Maine Development Council Aroostook Partnership for Progress and the Mitchell Institute.

LePage also reappointed Martha Harris to the State Board of Education for a second five-year term. She has served on the Board since 2010, including one year as vice chair and as chair of the Board since July of 2015. Harris is an accomplished lawyer practicing in Bangor since 1977 with a wealth of expertise in family law and mediation which are closely related to the work she does with the State Board of Education. Her involvement in education spans from her 20 plus years of service on the RSU 22 School Board to her involvement in the National Association of State Boards of Education.

"I have observed there are few people in Maine who have a busier schedule than Martha Harris," said LePage, in a news release. "Despite her packed schedule of mediations, court appearances and professional obligation, Martha always makes time for the important work of the State Board of Education, and I appreciate her dedicated service."

He also appointed student representative Elise McKendry, who is a sophomore at Forest Hills Consolidated School and student representative to the community's School Board.

McKendry is a member of one of the first classes that will graduate through a proficiency-based system at Forest Hills Consolidated School, giving her a valuable perspective on proficiency that she can bring to the State Board of Education. She is involved in a number of extracurricular activities including Speech and Debate, Math Team, Book Club, Jackman Youth Leadership, golf among many others.

While the State Board receives some staff support from the Maine Department of Education, it is an independent body. For more information, visit the State Board of Education.