Board Member Profiles

Sara-Beth James, Member

On Thursday, February 18, 2010, Governor Martin O’Malley announced the appointment of Sara-Beth James to the Allegany County Board of Education to fill the vacant seat left by the late Dr. Fred Sloan. James was elected to her first full term on the school board November 2, 2010. Ms. James is the Executive Director of Family Crisis Resource Center, Inc, which is a shelter and service provider for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Sara-Beth previously was the Director of Institutional Research at Allegany College of Maryland where she was responsible for maintaining, compiling, analyzing, and evaluating institutional data and reporting to internal and external constituents. Formerly she was employed by the Local Management Board of Allegany County and worked directly with grants and programs delivered to children and families in Allegany County
Sara-Beth is extremely active in the community serving Allegany County in a number of capacities. She is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce where she holds the position of the Leadership Allegany! Steering Committee Chair and is a member of the Leadership Allegany! Alumni Association Committee. Ms. James is a member of the Board of Directors for Jane’s Place-Child Advocacy Center, as well as the co-chair for the County United Way’s Annual Campaign. She is a member of the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, and the Allegany County Family Violence Council. James is a 1996 graduate of Fort Hill High School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Frostburg State University and her Master of Science degree in Applied Economics from the University of Delaware. sbjboe@gmail.com ]

Nicholas Hadley, Member

Nicholas Hadley was elected to the Board of Education on November 6, 2012.  He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in management and a minor in English from Frostburg State University.  Hadley is a commercial lines account manager in the Select Business Unit at CBIZ Insurance Services, Inc. where he holds various insurance designations.  He serves on the Governing Board of the Human Resources Development Commission of Allegany County; he is an Executive Committee member of the County United Way; and he volunteers his time with several local organizations in his hometown.  Hadley has also served as a Town Councilman and most recently as the Mayor of Lonaconing.  He currently resides in Lonaconing with his wife.  Nicholas.hadley80@gmail.com

Laurie Peskin Marchini, Vice-President

Laurie Peskin Marchini was elected to the Allegany County Board of Education on November 2, 2010. Laurie received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in communications from Western Maryland College. She also has a Master's degree in publications design from the University of Baltimore. Prior to returning to Cumberland in 1996, Laurie worked in marketing for Weinberg and Green, a 120-lawyer firm in Baltimore. Since returning home, Laurie has been very active in the community. She has been very involved in the Cumberland YMCA and has served on the Board of Directors for the past five years. She has chaired the marketing and membership committee and is currently serviing as president of the Y Board. Always a very active parent volunteer in the schools her children attend, she also serves on the Allegany High School Academic Endowment Fund. Laurie resides in Cumberland with her husband and two sons. lmarchini@atlanticbb.net

Michael Llewellyn, Member

On Monday, September 28, 2009, Governor Martin O'Malley appointed Michael Llewellyn to the Allegany County Board of Education to replace the late Jane Dawson until her term expired in January 2011. Llewellyn was elected to the Board on November 2, 2010. Llewellyn is an Associate Attorney at Geppert McMullen Paye and Getty where he practices civil litigation for individuals and corporations, estate planning, probate, municipal government, and real estate transactions. He is a member of the Board of Directors for Friends Aware, Inc. Llewellyn received his Bachelor of Science degree in psychology in 2001 from Frostburg State University and his Juris Doctor from West Virginia University College of Law in 2006. Llewellyn is licensed to practice law in Maryland and West Virginia. He resides in LaVale with his wife and daughter. michaelandrew71@gmail.com

Dr. Edward Root, President

Edward Root was elected to the Board of Education in November 2010. He earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from Frostburg State University and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Maryland. He currently serves as an adjunct professor at Frostburg State University. He has also served as president of the Maryland State Board of Education, Dean of the School of Education at Frostburg State University, and, earlier in his career, as a teacher in the Allegany County school system. He has significant experience in curriculum and program development ranging from the elementary to post-secondary levels. Dr. Root is involved in numerous organizations including the National Association of State Boards of Education, the National Society for the Study of Education, the Association of Teacher Educators, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the National Education Association.