Barry Conybeare was elected president of the St. Joseph Public Schools board of directors during a special meeting on Jan. 14, 2019. He has served as a trustee on the board since 2016 and will complete his most recent term in 2022. Conybeare succeeds former President Amy Porritt-Pierce who did not seek re-election to the board in 2018.
Superintendent Ann Cardon thanked Conybeare and the board for their service in her January 2019 letter to parents. She said their leadership and tireless efforts are vital to the district’s quality instructional programs. “[These servant leaders] work together to prepare today’s students to be tomorrow’s leaders. They are citizens whose decisions affect our children and build our community.”
Serving with Conybeare are officers Vice President Kerry Wright, Treasurer Chris Cook and Secretary Amy Marohn, and newly elected Trustees Rick Dyer, Kathy Weykamp and Brett Wier.
“Jody’s and my four children have received their education through the St. Joseph Public Schools,” said Conybeare. “I am committed to providing every child in our district with superior educational opportunities. It’s a privilege to work closely with the administrators, staff, parents, board and community to make this one of the most innovative and highest performing school districts in Michigan.”
Conybeare is a native of the Benton Harbor/St. Joseph area and is an attorney at Conybeare Law Office, P.C. in St. Joseph. He has been active in political, civic and community affairs for many years. Previously, he has served on the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation Fund Development Committee, the board of directors of Planned Parenthood of Southwest Michigan, Planned Parenthood Mid-Michigan Alliance, Curious Kids’ Museum, Lake Michigan College Foundation and Point O’ Woods Golf & Country Club.
Conybeare Law Office, P.C., is the largest full-service, personal injury law firm in Southwest Michigan. It has offices located at 519 Main Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085 and 5985 W. Main Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. The firm represents accident and injury victims throughout Southwest Michigan and takes pride in providing professional yet personalized legal representation to each client in a wide variety of cases. Its practice areas include animal attacks, car accidents, defective products, drunk-driving accidents, medical malpractice, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, premises liability and truck accidents, as well as Social Security disability and workers’ compensation benefits.