Board Directors

Missy Zombor, who was first elected in April 2023, has spent most of her career fighting for public education and working families in Milwaukee.  

Director Zombor has a bachelor's degree in communication, with an emphasis in public relations, and a master's degree in graphic communication. She currently serves as the deputy director of operations and administration for Rethinking Schools, a nonprofit publisher and advocacy organization dedicated to sustaining and strengthening public education through social justice teaching and education activism. Formerly, Director Zombor served as the communications director for the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association (MTEA).  

Director Zombor is active in community groups that include Parents for Public Schools, Voces de la Frontera, and Schools and Communities United. She is committed to ensuring MPS students graduate with the knowledge and power to question the world in a way that helps uproot the causes of racism, the climate crisis, and economic inequality.   

Director Zombor and her husband, Chance, are the proud parents of an MPS student who attends Lynde and Harry Bradley Technology and Trade School. They reside in the Enderis Park neighborhood with their dogs, cat, and backyard chickens. 

Marva Herndon, who was first elected in April 2019, is a graduate of West Division High School (now Milwaukee High School of the Arts). She enjoyed a 25-year career as a computer programmer at Harley Davidson. 

A 40-year resident of District 1, Director Herndon is an advocate for her community. She founded the Bryant Heights Neighborhood Association in 2001 and remains its President. Over the past 10 years, Director Herndon has become well known in the public education community throughout Wisconsin for her research and fierce commitment to challenging the policies that have defunded and cut services to public schools and demanding the education that all children deserve. In her quest to improve child safety and well-being, she initiated and advocated for City of Milwaukee Ordinance 252-77, which was passed in 2012. This ordinance requires all elementary schools to have their own playgrounds or easy access to existing playgrounds. 

Director Herndon has received numerous awards for her services: the “Unsung Hero Award” from the City of Milwaukee, the “Friend of Public Education” award from the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association, and the “Outstanding Leadership” award from the Milwaukee Police Department, District 4. She is very active in numerous community organizations and is currently a member of the NAACP (Education Committee), Women Informed, School & Communities United, Educators Amplified Radio Team, and Wisconsin Public Education Network.  

Director Herndon and her husband, Carl, are the parents of four daughters who are all MPS graduates. Their grandchildren who reside in Milwaukee are either MPS graduates or are currently enrolled in MPS. 

Erika Siemsen, who was first elected in April 2019, previously served MPS as an elementary educator for more than 30 years. 

Director Siemsen graduated from UW–Milwaukee with a bachelor's degree in elementary education, and she later received her master's degree in literacy reform from Cardinal Stritch University. She was a member of the Governance Council and a representative for the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association (MTEA). She held leadership roles in the implementation of positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS), teacher training, and mindfulness. Director Siemsen's years of service to the district were grounded in literacy education, restorative practices, and the creation of learning environments that were welcoming to all.  

Director Siemsen is from a family of three generations of MPS graduates, and she is MPS proud! She lives in the Washington Heights area with her husband and two dogs. 

Darryl L. Jackson, who was first elected in April 2023, is a lifelong Milwaukee resident and a proud graduate of Milwaukee Trade and Technical High School (now Lynde and Harry Bradley Technology and Trade School).  

Director Jackson graduated with an associate’s degree in applied sciences from Anthem College, and he is honored to be a mentor, instructor, community servant-leader, and business investor/owner. He has an extensive background in business finance and real estate development and construction, as well as in financial literacy. Director Jackson believes in addressing economic disparities and utilizing the arts and humanities to highlight and celebrate the strength of cultural inclusion and diversity. 

One of Director Jackson’s greatest passions is working with and for students to empower them with reflections of the greatness already within. He takes pride in leading youth and adult workshops, hosting poetry events and speaking engagements, participating in re-entry/ex-offender programs, and co-facilitating Community Building Milwaukee workshops and trainings. Director Jackson sits on several boards, including Riverworks Development Corporation, and he also works with The Fatherhood Initiative. His primary objective is to echo the importance of commitment, discipline, patience, and above all, unity. 

Dr. James Ferguson, who was first elected in November 2024, is a graduate of Milwaukee High School of the Arts (MHSA). He credits his teachers at MHSA and Westside Academy with inspiring his love for learning.  

Dr. Ferguson was raised in inner-city Milwaukee by hardworking parents, and his commitment to his faith and his community began early. He volunteered at Lisbon Avenue Neighborhood Development (LAND), and at age 14, he became president of LAND’s Youth Action Council. He went on to lead initiatives like the “Stop the Violence, Stop the Drugs” Peace March and Rally, which drew thousands of Milwaukee residents annually. 

These early experiences in public service grew to become a passion that continued into Dr. Ferguson’s adult life and career. With more than 20 years of executive leadership experience, he is known for his compassionate leadership and problem-solving skills, bringing people of diverse backgrounds together to solve difficult issues. He is a co-founder of Kingdom Partners Alliance, Inc., a faith-based umbrella agency that houses more than 75 businesses, organizations, and ministries. He also serves as executive general manager of Silver Mill Shopping Center on Milwaukee’s North Side. 

In his spare time, Dr. Ferguson enjoys playing Monopoly, reading, and traveling the world with his wife, Kara. 

Christopher Fons, who was elected in April 2025, is a retired educator with 24 years of MPS service. He taught social studies at Riverside University High School for 19 years, and he also served as a mentor/teacher in the First Nations Studies College Access Program. 

Director Fons holds a master’s degree in Latin American studies from the UW–Madison and a master’s in U.S. history from UW–Milwaukee, where he was also an undergraduate. In addition to his work in education, he is a co-founder of the Riverwest 24 bike race, and he organizes a year-round pick-up hockey league that reflects his commitment to building strong, inclusive communities. 

Director Fons is an unflinching advocate for public schools and believes them to be central to the social fabric of any democratic society. He tries to follow the maxim from the Talmud that it is far better to ask questions than it is to give easy answers. He is the proud parent of two children who currently attend MPS schools. 

Mimi Reza, who was elected in April 2025, is a proud graduate of Milwaukee High School of the Arts. 

Director Reza is especially passionate about expanding and supporting bilingual education programs, believing that bilingualism is a strength that should be celebrated and nurtured in every school. She is also committed to ensuring all children have access to the highest level of support and opportunity, particularly in areas facing economic and capacity challenges. 

Director Reza is currently a student at UW–Milwaukee pursuing a degree in health care administration and psychology. Living on Milwaukee’s Near South Side, she is an active member of the community and is a parent of two former MPS students. Her advocacy is rooted in lived experience, and she brings a deeply personal and informed perspective to her role on the Board. She is committed to ensuring MPS students receive the quality education they deserve. 

Dr. Kate Vannoy, who was elected in April 2025, is a proud MPS graduate, parent, grandparent, and lifelong advocate for public education who brings more than 25 years of experience in education. 

With a doctorate in instructional technology, Dr. Vannoy has a strong foundation in effective teaching practices and educational innovation. She taught at MPS for many years, including serving as an art and alternative education teacher and technology coordinator at Audubon Technology and Communication Center. Her priorities include increasing student achievement, ensuring safe and healthy school environments, and streamlining district policies to better serve students and families. She is focused on making sure resources are used effectively and transparently, with students at the center of every decision. 

Dr. Vannoy lives in the Jackson Park neighborhood and continues to be an active partner in her community. Her passion for education and student success guides her work on the Board as she collaborates with families, educators, and fellow Board directors to move MPS forward. 

Megan O’Halloran, who was first elected in April 2019 and re-elected in April 2023, is a lifelong resident of the Milwaukee area who has called the South Side home for more than 15 years. 

Director O'Halloran is a proud UWM Panther with a bachelor’s degree in history and Spanish and a master's degree in business administration. She has a background in financial compliance, contract analysis, and non-profit resource development. Guided by the statement of Pope Paul VI, “if you want peace, work for justice,” she is a member of a number of community groups, including Voces de la Frontera and SURJ-MKE (Showing Up for Racial Justice). She is a second-generation member of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). 

Director O’Halloran and her husband, Corey, are the proud parents of two MPS students who attend Reagan High School and A.E. Burdick School.