Board of Education

Joanne Pickrell began serving on the Bexley Board of Education in January 2022. Joanne and her husband, Aaron Pickrell, have called Bexley home for 15 years. They have two daughters, Lilly and Amelia, who are 2nd graders at Maryland Elementary School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from The George Washington University.  She is a partner at the Remington Road Group, a small public affairs firm based in Columbus, Ohio. In this role, she works to advance policies that make a meaningful difference in the lives of families and communities, including initiatives on education, health care, diversity, and strengthening community trust.  In 2019, Joanne volunteered for the Committee for Bexley Excellence, which passed the 2019 Bexley Schools’ operating levy. She served as Vice President of the Board in 2024.
joanne.pickrell@bexley.us

In 2019, Mr. King was co-leader of the school levy campaign and has been in continued service to Bexley Schools as a member of the Treasurer’s Finance Advisory Council and a member of last year’s strategic planning subcommittee on diversity, equity, and inclusion. He also was a candidate for the Board of Education in 2021.

Mr. King works in public finance and has expertise in financing for public entities, including public school districts. He has served on multiple boards, including SWACO and the Columbus Montessori Education Center. He also is a member of Bexley’s Board of Zoning and Planning Committee.

patrick.king@bexley.us

Dr. Jonathan Baker has had a career rooted in teaching and helping others enhance their own skills in the classroom. Dr. Baker was an Assistant Professor at Columbus State Community College for 10 years. He then served as Mathematics Department Chairperson for 7 years where he managed the largest department on campus for seven years and expanded online course offerings.

Dr. Baker then went to OSU in a hybrid faculty-staff appointment within the Department of Statistics where he developed the department’s first online course and served as coordinator for tutoring and transfer credit. He then joined the Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching & Learning as a Faculty Fellow; and has now become an Associate Director within the Institute overseeing the educational consulting staff and continues to teach statistics during the academic year.

Diversity & equity work has been a passion of Jonathan’s both professionally & personally. He served as co-Principal Investigator for the STEM Ability Alliance while at Columbus State, was a part of OSU’s Advocates & Allies (for gender equity) program, and was the Inaugural President of the Bexley Minority Parents Alliance.

Dr. Baker, his wife, Courtney, and daughters (Sophia BHS ’20, Lydia BHS ’23, Naomi BHS ’26) have been proud Bexley residents for well over a decade. Dr. Baker has spent several seasons coaching youth basketball, and even assisting with soccer & cheerleading. Dr. Baker has been active with music & theater programs. He has worked on the Technology Committee & has been a member of the Bexley Middle School PTO since 2014. He has been a proud member of the Big Brothers/Big Sister mentoring program. Dr. Baker has served his church in numerous speaking, teaching, and service capacities. He was even a former board member.

Dr. Baker brings his experience as a trained statistician, school administrator, innovative educator, and passionate ally for ALL students to continue to propel Bexley City Schools ahead.

jonathan.baker@bexley.us

Following his election in November 2023, Mike Carter began a full term on the Bexley Board of Education in January 2024. He is a licensed nuclear medicine technologist with more than 20 years of experience in clinical settings. He also is a licensed real estate agent and previously coached youth football in Bexley.

A veteran of the United States Navy, Mike graduated with an associate of science degree in clinical nuclear medicine from the Naval School of Health Sciences and went on to receive his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Norfolk State University, where he graduated magna cum laude. He also earned an associate of science degree in real estate from Columbus State Community College.

mike.carter@bexley.us

Victoria Powers and her husband, David Horn, have lived in Bexley since 1997. They have two sons, Graham and Simon, who are both Bexley High School graduates.

Victoria earned a B.A. in philosophy from Mount Holyoke College and a J.D. from the University of California College of the Law San Francisco. After practicing law in California and Ohio, she retired from the Ice Miller law firm in 2018, where she chaired the firm’s financial restructuring practice group and served in firm management in a number of capacities. Since retiring, Victoria has served as adjunct faculty at Capital University Law School and has volunteered with the Legal Aid Society of Columbus.

During her years in the legal practice Victoria was recognized by Ohio Super Lawyers 2004-2019, including in 2019, as one of the top 100 lawyers and top 50 women lawyers in Ohio; by Chambers USA in America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Bankruptcy and Restructuring, 2005-2018, and recognized in Band 1 since 2013; and in The Best Lawyers® in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law, and Bankruptcy Litigation, 2005-2018, and as Best Lawyers® 2015 “Lawyer of the Year” in Bankruptcy Litigation in Columbus.

Victoria has served on a number of community boards, including the Bexley Education Foundation, Broad Street Presbyterian Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, the Columbus Montessori Education Center, the Ohio Poverty Law Center Board’s Development Committee, and the National Kidney Foundation. Victoria currently serves on the Board of Trustees of BalletMet Columbus and the Broad Street Presbyterian Church Personnel Committee. She is an Alumnae Admissions Representative for Mount Holyoke College, serves on the Board of her graduating class, is Treasurer of the Mount Holyoke College Central Ohio Alum Club captains a Pelotonia peloton, and sings and serves with the Harmony Project

Victoria was first elected to the Board of Education in 2019 and was reelected in 2023. She served as Vice President of the Board in 2021 and 2023 and as President in 2022, 2024, and 2025.

victoria.powers@bexley.us