Rita started her elementary teaching career as a kindergarten teacher in Portland, Oregon. She had additional teaching assignments in Eugene and Milwaukie, Oregon before raising her family. Eventually she settled in Shoreline Washington and taught elementary students for 30 years. She was active in the Shoreline Education Association, serving as VP and President for 4 years. Her activities in WSSRA include President of the Sno-King School Retirees, NW-1 Coordinating Council Chair, WSSRA Executive Board and Secretary for the WSSR-PAC. She is active in her community of Lake Forest Park where she is Secretary for the Lake Forest Park Library Advisory Committee. Reading, traveling and watercolor painting are some of the activities she enjoys. Rita has three children and three grandchildren.
President-Elect
Louie Osmonovich
After graduating from Central Washington University in 1962, Louie taught fifth and sixth grades his first two years in the Moxee School District. His third year of teaching was in a small elementary school in Ronald, Washington. In 1966 the smaller districts of Ronald, Roslyn, South Cle Elum consolidated and became the Cle Elum-Roslyn School District where he taught for the next 26 years. He taught every grade from third through eighth along with some basketball coaching. He was an active member of WEA during his teaching career, holding offices in the local unit and was a member of the district's negotiating team for several years. Since his retirement he has held offices of Vice President, President and Membership chair of Kittitas County SRA, Unit 09. Recently he has served as a WSSRA Board member representing the E-5 district. While on the Board he was the liaison for the newly formed WSSRA Outreach Committee and chaired the E-5 Scholarship Committee. Last year he served on the state Legislative Committee. In their spare time, Louie and his wife Sherry travel and also spend time camping and fishing taking horses and pack mules into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area. They have two grown children, raised one foster son and had several short-term foster children. As a result, they are grandparents of six and great grandparents of one.
Immediate Past President
Gene Forrester
Gene taught Agriculture Science in Ellensburg High School from 1951-1972. He then moved to Olympia to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. He worked in OSPI for 19 years and became State Director of Agricultural Education. He has served the Thurston County SRA as President and Leg. Com. Chair and served WSSRA as District 4 Representative, Parliamentarian, Chair of the Rules & Resolutions Committee and on the Legislative Committee. He also was a member of AARP’s National Policy Council for 8 years. In 2007 he received the Stan McNaughton Outreach Award. Gene & his wife Vivian have four daughters and 5 grandchildren.
Secretary
Barbara Pugh
Barbara Pugh has been a WSSRA member for 20 years
and is just starting her 17th year as its secretary. She is well prepared
for her job as scribe because she "trained" for the position
as a Spokane Public Schools administrative secretary for 25 years.
Today, when she is not recording the association's meetings, she is
enjoying retired life with Lyle Pugh, her husband of 33 years in Spokane. They have six children, 12 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Treasurer
Neil Prescott
The man who is WSSRA's chief financial officer has
been a member for 20 years. Before that, he held many responsible
administrative positions with Spokane's Central Valley School District:
elementary principal, curriculum director and assistant superintendent.
Currently, he continues to serve as a consultant with his favorite
school district. Neil and his wife Ramona, have three children and
reside in the Spokane Valley.
