Elissa Dyson - School Board Director - School Board Chair

Elissa Dyson left Seattle and her career at the University of Washington in 1984 and moved to her “forever home” in Onion Creek. She was appointed to the OCS School Board in 1985 and began learning about the complex and compelling world of K-12 education.

Over the ensuing years, she has fought for the survival of small schools across the state, serving as Chair of the Washington State School Directors Association Small Schools Committee for 12 years and visiting every school district with fewer than 2000 students (over 200). She also helped challenge the narrowing of curricula and test-centric efforts which began under “No Child Left Behind” by developing and leading a series of workshops about the History and Future of Public Education. Her commitment to public education has been recognized by WSSDA as one of only five recipients of the Hero in Education award, and the Washington Association of School Administrators' highest honor, the Golden Gavel Award.

Most of all, however, she treasures her continuing involvement in the life of our amazing students, staff, and community and the exceptional education provided at Onion Creek School. Her three children are all P-8 graduates of OCS, and credit much of their success in life to their experiences at our great little school!

Lukas Tex Miller - School Board Director - School Board Vice-Chair

Lukas Miller is a long-time resident of Onion Creek.  Born in Trail B.C. and raised in Onion Creek, He attended Onion Creek School in the 1980”s.  At that time, the school was K-6th grade, so he went on to attend Jr. High and High School in Colville-graduating with a top 5 GPA.  From there he went on to higher learning at WWU and CWU.  He secured a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from CWU.

After living and working in large cities (Spokane, Bellingham, New Orleans) for many years, he moved back to Onion Creek to be near his parents and to raise his two sons August and Elliot.  The twins have attended OCS from Pre-School to (currently) 5th grade.

Lukas has been on the OCS Board for four years and finds it a great way to contribute time and energy to the school.  He also works for Nabisco, and his wife Jennifer works for the SCC-Colville branch, but their real (and most rewarding) job is raising two incredible boys.

Joel Anderson - School Board Director

I'm Joel Anderson, a member of the Onion Creek Board of Directors, a substitute teacher and the technology coordinator at Onion Creek School.
I taught at Onion Creek School from 1974 to 2004. When I came, it was still a one-room school with one teacher, one bus driver, and a three-member school board. By the time I retired, there were three regular teachers and one special services teacher. There now is a superintendent/principal, a transportation coordinator, a custodian/maintenance person. a food service director,  three part-time instructional aides, and a five-member school board. 

Leola Butler - School Board Director

My name is Leola Butler. I have been married to my husband, Arthur, for 47 years.  Wemade Onion Creek our home in 2015 and we have two sons who attend Onion Creek School.

Being a military family and moving often, I was able to explore numerous school systems: urban, rural, remote and home school. When looking for the place to put down roots, the school was the foremost priority. OCSD met all my concerns for educating, inspiring, and teaching responsibility of oneself and one’s community to our children.

I was not elected to this position. Early in 2022 a need arose for a replacement board member. I felt extremely proud to be considered, and I was appointed as an Onion Creek School District board member in May of 2022. I am happy to be a part of the team.

Derek Sundheim - School Board Director