Election May 2025: Meet the candidates for the Hillsboro school board race

Published 5:00 am Friday, May 9, 2025

By Nick LaMora

Election season is here once again, and Hillsboro has some seats to fill.

The 2025 special district election will take place May 20. All prospective candidates have filed their paperwork, and ballots were mailed to voters April 30.

In Hillsboro, four school board seats are up for election — three of which are contested.

A total of seven candidates are making bids this year, with two bringing prior experience on the Hillsboro school board.

Yessica Hardin-Mercado, Position 1

With the Hillsboro school board Position 1 opening up, newcomer Yessica Hardin-Mercado is hoping to claim the seat.

A former teacher in both the Hillsboro School District and Portland Public Schools, Hardin-Mercado is the co-owner and strategy and operations officer for Oregon Healthy Homes, an HVAC contractor based in Tualatin. She has an associate degree from Portland Community College, as well as a bachelor’s in social science and a master’s in education from Portland State University.

Hardin-Mercado has also been involved on the board of the American Lung Association — an organization dedicated to preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research.

“I’m running because I believe in the power of public education and the potential of every student,” Hardin-Mercado told the News-Times. “As a parent of two children in Hillsboro schools, and someone who has spent over 15 years working in education, I’ve seen firsthand how schools can open doors and how important it is to have leadership that listens, supports and responds to the real needs of students, families and staff. I want to help strengthen the bridge between the community and our schools so every student has what they need to succeed.”

The candidate’s priorities include empowering students with real-world experiences for post-graduation pathways, supporting professional growth and well-being for educators and staff, strengthening family and community partnerships and reimagining outdated systems to meet students’ needs.

Hardin-Mercado faces fellow newcomer Sidney S. Thompson. The winner will serve a four-year term.

Sidney S. Thompson, Position 1

Sidney S. Thompson is making a bid to take over the vacated Position 1 seat on the Hillsboro school board.

Currently the director of assessment content at Renaissance Learning, an education company focused on using data to help teachers accelerate learning, Thompson brings prior experience as an instructional coach in the Beaverton School District, program manager at educational testing service Avant Assessment and director of partnership development for the Portland Metro STEM Partnership.

Thompson holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology and a master’s in teaching and learning from Ohio State University.

“I am running for Hillsboro school board for three reasons: I love Hillsboro and desire to root deeply into my community; I am a parent and know what it is like to worry about the educational opportunities for your child; and, because striving for quality academics in K-12 education has been my entire career,” Thompson told the News-Times. “I bring 28 years of experience in education spanning teaching, administration, leadership and educational innovation. Ten years in the classroom and three years as an administrator have provided me with firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities within schools.”

According to Thompson, her experience will help develop improvements in academic proficiency. Her goals include building college and career readiness, advancing technical education, and fostering relationships with parents, teachers and administrators.

Thompson faces fellow newcomer Yessica Hardin-Mercado. The winner will serve a four-year term.

Maureen Barnhart, Position 2

Newcomer Maureen Barnhart is stepping up to challenge for Position 2 on the Hillsboro school board.

A retired Hillsboro School District educator of over 30 years, Barnhart spent time as a classroom aide and teacher, while also working in a community school and parochial school prior to her time in the local district. She has an associate degree in biology and English from Mt. San Antonio Community College and a bachelor’s in environmental education from the University of California, Berkeley.

On the Hillsboro Education Association, she spent six years as president and three years as vice president. She was also formerly a member of the Hillsboro School District’s Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee. Additionally, she serves as a Precinct Committee Person for the Washington County Democrats.

“Improving student achievement — preparing students to thrive in the college, career and lives of their choice — continues to be challenging in the current economic situation. State resources are inadequate to meet the Quality Education Model, including recruitment, retention and support of the highly effective staff who support public education,” Barnhart said. “In advocating for more state resources, and to offset the impending loss of federal resources, all budget decisions made by the Oregon Legislature and the Hillsboro School District should be student-centered.”

Barnhart emphasized the importance of school safety and wellness support for students, as well as a need to encourage family and community engagement. She also spoke to a need to prioritize limited resources for highest-need students and advocate for protecting core services.

She is running against incumbent Mark Watson for Position 2. The winner will serve a four-year term.

Mark Watson, Position 2

Incumbent Mark Watson is running to once again serve in Position 2 on the Hillsboro school board.

Watson, who previously founded a software company specializing in computerized video analysis for Major League Baseball and National Hockey League teams, currently works as a legislative aide with a focus on statewide education policy. He has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Northern Illinois University and a master’s in media arts from the University of Arizona.

Watson was first elected to the Hillsboro School Board of Directors in 2017, and he previously served as chair of the board from 2021 to 2024. He also has prior governmental experience on the Metro Policy Advisory Committee.

“I am running because I have the experience the Hillsboro School District needs to navigate the difficult times ahead,” Watson told the News-Times. “While the Federal Administration attempts to both eliminate and weaponize the U.S. Department of Education, I stand with the governor, the attorney general and the Oregon Department of Education in saying that (Hillsboro) and other districts in Oregon remain in compliance with existing state and federal law. At the same time, (Hillsboro School District) will continue to be proud of our dual language, migrant education and many other programs which support the vibrant diversity of our community.”

The incumbent noted that the district has seen its highest graduation rate during his time on the board. He also said he was part of the leadership that saw the creation of student positions on the board and passed a construction bond to improve schools across the district.

Watson is challenged by newcomer Maureen Barnhart for Position 2. The winner will serve a four-year term.

Nancy Thomas, Position 3

Incumbent Nancy Thomas is back on the ballot to serve on the Hillsboro school board Position 3.

Thomas, running unopposed, was first elected to the school board in 2021, and she also serves on the Oregon School Boards Association as a director and member of the legislative policy committee.

She currently serves as the chief operations officer for District 2 of the Oregon Department of Human Services, with previous experience in business operations, budget management and internal auditing. She has a bachelor’s in international relations from Drake University, a juris doctorate from Northern Kentucky University, and a master’s certificate in commercial contract management from George Washington University.

“We are living in unprecedented times. And these are fighting times. There is no better time than now for me to fight on behalf of our children and our community,” Thomas told the News-Times. “I am without regret making the sacrifice to give my time, talent and treasure to our community, to our children and to Hillsboro School District. We have to fight to repair the damage to our education system and our children from the pandemic. We have to fight to get the legislature to fully fund our schools with the tax dollars our community raises. We have to fight to raise expectations, raise teacher and classified staff salaries and weather the storms of impending budget deficits. No better time like the present. No better reason than our children, our community, and our democracy.”

Her values span transparent and student-focused fiscal accountability, increasing stable and equitable education funding beyond current service levels, adequate funding for special education, and continuing to focus on recruiting and retaining teachers and staff that reflect the student population.

If elected, Thomas will serve a four-year term.

Rebecca Descombes, Position 6

Newcomer Rebecca Descombes is placing her bid to fill the vacated Position 6 seat on the Hillsboro school board.

Descombes works as a health policy coordinator with the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. She has previously worked in census equity, community advocacy, and housing and energy support. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public administration from Portland State University.

Her government-related experience includes serving on the Energy Trust of Oregon’s Diversity Advisory Council, Oregon Health and Science University’s Women’s Health Research Unit Community Advisory Council and the Metro Committee on Racial Equity.

“I believe it’s fundamental to our educational system to provide an inclusive and equitable environment for all students and their families. It’s crucial for all cultural groups to see themselves reflected and heard within their communities, especially in educational settings,” Descombes said in the Washington County voters’ pamphlet. “As a mother of three and long-term resident, I will continue to advocate to support our HSD families. Together, we can create a responsive and inclusive educational system where every student’s voice is heard, every cultural group is represented and every student has access to the resources they need to thrive.”

According to Descombes, she plans to advocate for school funding through private grants to support diverse educational experiences, promote student participation in policymaking and work to ensure Native American and Alaska Native students have better access to Title VI benefits tailored to their individual circumstances.

Descombes faces fellow newcomer Katie Rhyne for the Position 6 seat. The winner will serve a four-year term.

Katie Rhyne, Position 6

Newcomer Katie Rhyne is vying to fill the vacated Position 6 on the Hillsboro school board.

A small business owner as a massage therapist, Rhyne has an occupational background in marketing and massage therapy. She holds a degree in literature from Claremont McKenna College.

Rhyne has previously served as the chair of the Hillsboro Library Board, as well as a precinct committeeperson for the Washington County Democrats. She has also been involved with the Hillsboro Civic Leadership Academy and has also volunteered in the Hillsboro School District.

“I am passionate about public education, and I think that it needs to be defended, not defunded.

School should be a place where diversity is seen as a strength, and where every student feels included and welcome: every race and ethnicity, every ability level and citizenship status, and every sexual orientation and gender identity,” Rhyne told the News-Times. “I want to support and strengthen our local school district, and keep its students, teachers and staff at the center of my policy priorities and advocacy, while protecting our community’s shared values.”

In the Washington County voters’ pamphlet, Rhyne stated that she is committed to putting students first, with a desire to prioritize raising graduation rates, increasing career options, school safety, equal access to educational opportunities and funding special education. She also said she plans to center students, teachers and parents by listening to challenges and goals and maintaining transparency.

Rhyne is up against fellow newcomer Rebecca Descombes for the Position 6 seat; the winner will take on a four-year term.

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