OEA President Gail Rasmussen

Gail Rasmussen, an education support professional from Eagle Point, was elected OEA President in April 2009. When elected to OEA President, Rasmussen was serving her second term as OEA Vice President. In 1999, Rasmussen was named "National Education Support Professional of the Year," by the National Education Association.

Rasmussen has worked in the Eagle Point School District for 18 years. She got her start in public education as a receptionist at Eagle Point High School. She worked her way through a series of positions, which gave her more and more responsibilities, including attendance coordinator, administrative assistant to the athletic director, and then coordinator of the school district's Occupational Internship Program, a career exploration program (school-to-work) that is a joint partnership with the Veterans Administration Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics (VA SORCC).

Rasmussen says her top priority in her new role at the Oregon Education Association is to stabilize school funding. "Kids need stability," she says.

Rasmussen’s election as OEA President is historic on two counts: she is the first classified employee to be elected to the highest OEA office and she will also be the first African-American to serve as OEA president.

Born in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Rasmussen spent her childhood there. She is married to Paul David (David), who is retired from the Veterans Administration. They have two sons, Kent and Tavis, and four grandchildren.