And then, she was gone.
With family in attendance and tears in her eyes, longtime Mercer Island School Board member Pat Braman said farewell as she, along with Board President Brian Emanuels, stepped down from their respective director chairs at the regular board meeting Thursday, Dec. 10.
Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano and the remaining board members honored Braman and Emanuels with a reception prior to swearing in new members David D’Souza and Tracy Drinkwater. Plano addressed both, saying they will leave a lasting legacy behind, particularly through three projects: the new Northwood Elementary, the rebuilding of Islander Middle School, and the music wing and 10-classroom extension at Mercer Island High School.
“Your impact to this relatively small Island community is colossal and monumental,” he said. “We are so grateful to you that you are able to share your lives with us in service to our students.”
Emanuels was on the board for nearly five years, serving as legislative representative, vice president and president during his final year. He has been on the School District-City Partnership Committee for the past three years, as well as the superintendent’s District Advisory Committee, the 21st Century Facilities Advisory Committee, the District’s Title IX Advisory Committee, and board member of the Mercer Island Schools Foundation.
His community involvement included five years on the Boys & Girls Club PEAK steering committee, and Emanuels was founder and president of the Mercer Island Little League.
Emanuels called being on the board an enjoyable experience, much of which he said was a credit to Plano’s work as superintendent. Emanuels expressed his admiration both for Plano and for his fellow outgoing colleague, Braman.
“Her legacy that she’s leaving in the district is impossible to calculate over decades as a teacher, board member and many other things,” he said. “I have so appreciated working with Pat. Even on political issues where we may be very far apart, we always find a way to come together and find common ground.”
Braman has been a fixture in the district since she was hired as a teacher in the late 1960s, teaching English at the high school for 26 years. Plano noted she “tried to retire” before returning to serve as Mercer Island Education Association executive director.
She was on the board for 12 years, serving as president, vice president and legislative representative. Braman’s 30 years of community involvement includes PTA work and church service and volunteering. She was a past president for the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce, and was named citizen of year in 1997.
Braman reiterated hiring Plano as supterintendent was a major achievement during her time on the board.
“I just want to say that he’s a blend of the best of all the superintendents we’ve had, and I can say that because I’ve known every single one,” she said with a laugh. “I was hired by the first, fortunately never fired, did have some run-ins now and then with a few of the others, but I think we’re truly blessed to have his leadership here in the district.”
Braman said she was proud the district didn’t have a “swinging door of superintendents” as the district may have had in the past, citing the importance of community collaboration.
“It’s between these staff members and these administrators, it’s between the parents and the staff, it’s between the school district and our wonderful foundation, it’s between all of the parts of this educational community that we’re able to continue to hire our best teachers, the best people out there, because of that collaboration,” she said through tears. “I think there’s a lot of good things ahead.”
Board reorganizes with new members
D’Souza, Drinkwater and returning board member-elect Ralph Jorgenson were sworn in to their respective board chairs. The board then reorganized, unanimously appointing Jorgenson as president, D’Souza as vice president and Drinkwater as legislative representative.
