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 an

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