The Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) recently announced that Caroline County School Board member Shawn Kelley is the recipient of the 2025 VSBA Advocate for Education Award.
This award recognizes school board members who have demonstrated significant and outstanding leadership, commitment, and contribution to public education that has had an impact on their region and the Commonwealth, and who have shown active involvement in local, state, and federal advocacy on behalf of their school division, VSBA, and public education. This is the 11th year the award has been presented.
Kelley’s served the Caroline School Board since 2012, representing the Madison District. He’s also a social studies teacher at Spotsylvania High School.
According to a release from the VSBA, he’s driven positive changes through his advocacy and commitment to improving educational outcomes. The VSBA release said that Kelley’s influence extends beyond Caroline, reaching regional and state levels, where he champions the importance of equitable, high-quality public education for all.
“On behalf of the Caroline County School Board, I want to congratulate Mr. Shawn Kelley on receiving the VSBA Advocate for Education Award,” said Calvin Taylor, chair of the Caroline School Board. “Mr. Kelley’s tireless efforts to promote public education and his steadfast advocacy on behalf of our students and educators make him an outstanding representative of Caroline County. His leadership and voice have made a lasting impact both locally and across the Commonwealth.”
Caroline Superintendent Sarah Calveric also weighed in on the recognition of Kelley.
“We are incredibly proud of Mr. Shawn Kelley for being recognized with the VSBA Advocate for Education Award,” Calveric said. “His dedication to public education and unwavering commitment to advocating for the needs of our students, staff, and community truly embody what it means to be a champion for education. This honor reflects his passion for ensuring that every child in Caroline County and across the Commonwealth has access to the opportunities they deserve.”
Kelley’s involvement with the VSBA includes serving as both a VSBA Delegate and alternate for Caroline, ensuring the division has a consistent voice in VSBA decision-making and governance. He also served on the VSBA Federal Advocacy Committee, taken part in legislative advocacy visits, participated in VSBA’s Take Your Legislator to School Day, annual development of legislative priorities, advocated directly with state legislators on issues critical to public education, including teacher recruitment and retention, school funding, student mental health services, and he participated in Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s lab school initiative.
Kelley has served as chair and vice chair of the Caroline board, priding himself on a student-centered approach. He leadership helped guide the board through key initiatives such as expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities, strengthening community partnerships, and elevating students’ voices in decision-making.
Two Stafford County School Board members also were honored by the VSBA last week.
Patricia Healy, who represents the Rock Hill District, received the VSBA Quarter Century Award, which recognizes 25 years of continuous service on a school board.
Gabriella Irish, the Stafford board’s student representative, received the 2025 VSBA Exhibitors Scholarship. The scholarship totaled $2,500.
“Receiving this scholarship means a lot to me because it recognizes the work I’ve done to represent student voices and bridge the gap between students and decision-makers,” Irish, a senior at Stafford High School, said in an announcement of the award. “Serving as a school board student representative showed me how much impact young people can have when they speak up, even in spaces where they’re not always expected to. This scholarship gives me the opportunity to keep building on that work as I study political science and public policy.”
