RICHLAND, Wash. – The Washington State Board of Education (SBE) announced that a Richland man will join as its newest member in January 2026.
Van Cummings, a seasoned educator with a 40-year career, will represent Eastern Region Seat 2.
Cummings will succeed Ryan Brault, who has served since March 2017. He will officially join the board on January 12, 2026, and will be sworn in during the February 11 meeting. His term will last through January 2030, SBE said in a release.
“Van brings a rich and extensive set of experiences to the Board,” said Mary Fertakis, Chair of the Washington State Board of Education “His dedication to serving students at all levels of the K–12 system will be a great asset to our work.”
Cummings started his career teaching English Language Arts at the middle and high school levels. He is proud of his leadership in introducing Air Force JROTC programs at two high schools and his tenure teaching ELA to fourth- through sixth-grade students in Othello School District’s Migrant Summer School.
After obtaining his Master of Education from Central Washington University in 1987, Cummings worked as a principal and assistant principal across eastern Washington. His roles included Director of Educational Talent Search at Lewis-Clark State College and Director of School Improvement for Educational Service District 123.
Since retiring in 2015, Cummings has remained active in education, serving as an interim and substitute principal across the state. He notably worked as K–12 interim principal for the Inchelium School District on the Colville Reservation.
“My motivation to serve on the State Board of Education comes from my lifelong commitment to community service,” he said. “I believe school districts are best supported through strong local control and that all students deserve access to a free and appropriate public education.”
The Washington State Board of Education is a 16-member policy board that provides strategic oversight for Washington’s K–12 public education system.
