The Willamette ESD is governed by a nine-member board consisting of five directors elected by component school district boards of directors, and four appointed directors. The elected directors represent a specific geographic zone in the region and the appointed directors represent a specific discipline.
Members of the board serve without pay. Terms of office commence and expire with the district’s fiscal year (July 1-June 30). Officers of the board are elected annually at the July meeting. The board is a policy making body, and the agency's administrative staff implement policy and procedure.