Board of Directors
Get to know those behind the Osborn School District Educational Foundation's work.
Wilma Basnett, President
Wilma Basnett retired in 2014, after 26 years of leading the Osborn School District as its superintendent. She helped found the Osborn School District Educational Foundation in 1986. A member of the Rotary Club of Phoenix West, she served Rotary International as District Governor 2005-06, representing 40 clubs and 1,800 Rotarians in northwestern Arizona. Currently she is a docent at the Phoenix Art Museum and serves on the Docent Board of Directors.
Lee Pistor, Vice President
Lee Pistor is a fourth generation Arizonan and has worked for the last 30 years in the electronics industry giving him the opportunity to travel the globe. His late wife, Mary, was an educator in the Osborn School District for 38 years and was very committed and passionate about providing the best for the students and dedicated teachers of Osborn. It is Lee’s desire to continue to help the district through service on the Osborn School District Educational Foundation.
Marty Makar, Secretary
Marty Makar retired in 2017 following a 37- year career in education. After motivating elementary and middle school students in the classroom for 22 years, Marty was appointed assistant principal in 2002 and served as principal of Osborn Middle School from 2005 – 2017. She is dedicated to the mission that all Osborn students have opportunity to succeed.
Vonna Barnes, CPA, Treasurer
Bio coming soon.
Hannah Auger
Bio coming soon.
Leslie Beauchamp
Leslie Beauchamp is a 4th generation Phoenician who had grown up hearing her father reminisce about attending Osborn #1 on Central.  Leslie was fortunate enough to also learn and grow in Osborn while serving as middle school assistant principal and an elementary principal from 2007-2013. She currently works as a district liaison and principal coach for a grant focused on redesigning human capital management systems and schools to extend the reach of excellent educators. She believes that it is our collective responsibility to ensure that all children receive a high-quality, free, and public education, and is excited to support the Osborn School District Educational Foundation in extending and maximizing resources for students and teachers in Osborn.
Bill Boyd, CPA
Bill Boyd recently retired as a partner of Price Kong CPAs. Bill was instrumental in developing a long standing partnership between Price Kong and the foundation that continues to donate proceeds from their annual golf tournament to the foundation to fund sports programs and equipment for district students.
John Dowd
John Dowd works with a dedicated team of professionals at CORE Construction, the number one ranked school builder in the state of Arizona. After graduating from Concordia University – Irvine in 2016, John moved back to Arizona, now residing within the Osborn School District. Since returning to Arizona, his passion and advocacy efforts for Arizona’s public education system has continued to grow. John looks forward to working collaboratively with the Osborn Education Foundation, assisting the foundation with its mission by impacting students’ lives across the district.
Michelle Doherty
Michelle Doherty was a first-grade dual language teacher and mentor coach at Encanto Elementary in the Osborn School District for 25 years. She proudly invested her ENTIRE teaching career for the same district and the same school.
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Michelle was born and raised in Arizona, and is a first-generation college graduate. She is continuing her love for teaching by supporting and mentoring new teachers in the Arizona Teachers Academy, and is also an adjunct faculty member for Northern Arizona University. She is currently on the Arizona Educational Foundation Board and supports many inspiring programs within AEF, including, the selection of Arizona Teacher of the Year, the A+ School of Excellence program, and Our World.
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Michelle was recognized at the Arizona Educational Foundation 2017 Arizona Teacher of the Year, the 2016-2017 Osborn School District Teacher of the Year, and the 2015 Chicanos Por La Causa Esperanza Latino Teacher of the Year. Michelle received her B.A. in Early Childhood Education, her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in reading and early childhood education from Arizona State University, and in 2017 received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Northern Arizona University. She feels it is a privilege and an honor to work in the field of education, and is most passionate about providing a quality education for all.
Gary Drummond
Gary Drummond is an attorney at Sallquist, Drummond & O’Connor, P.C. in Phoenix. A past president of the Thunderbird and Phoenix West Rotary clubs, he is the currently serving as co-president elect for of the Phoenix West Rotary Club.
Juan Flamand
Bio coming soon.
Matt Jewett
Matt Jewett's background is in health, education, and legislative and electoral advocacy. He oversaw health policy for Children’s Action Alliance, a voice for Arizona’s children at the legislature and in the community. He currently is the Director of Grants for Mountain Park Health Center, which provides primary care for people of all ages, and has a pediatric clinic at the Christown YMCA. Matt served on the Governing Board of the neighboring Creighton Elementary School District from 2008-14, and has resided in the Osborn School District since 2018.
A.J. Marsden
Bio coming soon.
Patty Tate
Patty Tate worked for almost 40 years as a volunteer, parent, teacher and educational leader to help Osborn students succeed. She retired as superintendent in 2017. In addition to her commitment to public education, Patty serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and CASA Peer Coordinator, speaking up for abused and neglected foster children in court and supporting other CASAs in this work. She and her husband Don, also a retired educator, are committed to improve the health, security and education of all Arizona children.
Eric Thompson
Eric Thompson is the CFO for Tempe Elementary School District. Prior to his current job, he spent six years auditing school districts across Arizona. Eric and his wife have two young children and live in the Osborn District, which the children will attend when they are older.
Marlys Weaver
After earning a bachelor's degree in journalism and working as a reporter in northern Indiana, Marlys has spent the bulk of her career working in education communications and marketing. She is currently the communications director for the Arizona K12 Center at Northern Arizona University, a one-of-a-kind hub that develops and provides research-based professional learning for Arizona's educators. She has previously supported communications and marketing efforts for other schools and education agencies, including four years with the Maricopa County School Superintendent's Office. She also served two terms as vice president of programming for the Arizona School Public Relations Association and holds a master's degree in professional writing from Northern Arizona University.
Dr. Michael Robert
As superintendent of Osborn School District, Dr. Michael Robert is an ex-officio member of the Osborn School District Educational Foundation's board and acts as the foundation’s primary liaison to the Osborn School District.