Staff: Kathy Shealy

Kathy Shealy is joining the Friends of the Children - Houston Team as the Director of Programs as of October 2023. She is driven by a sense of purpose to help others and improve the lives of children and believes in listening to others while working collaboratively and collectively to move work forward.

Before joining the Friends Team, Kathy proudly served as an elementary principal and elementary teacher for over 19 years in both Klein and Humble independent school districts and retired in 2022. She thrives on positive interactions with students, staff, and families. She has volunteered at her local school, mentoring students in Humble ISD.

Kathy is a native New Yorker and has had the privilege to live in Georgia, Virginia, Ohio, and Michigan. Those rich experiences life experiences have allowed her to have various learning opportunities and provided her an openness to others.

Kathy has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Findlay and a Master of Education from Stephen F. Austin State University. In 2022, she successfully graduated from the Holdsworth Leadership Institute. As a campus leader, she was part of the team that led Dual Language Implementation, established a partnership with Rice University for Science Professional Development (REMSL), led a collaborative team for Personalized Learning, assisted with the grant writing team for creative learning experiences for students and many other educational initiatives. Kathy has been recognized as a Campus Teacher of the Year, a participant in Region IV Aspiring Superintendent and Leadership Academy, and Who Who’s amongst educators. She has never stopped learning and feels we should all be helping each other to continue to grow individually and professionally.

Her passion for children and genuine interest in serving others is what gives her a road map for life. Kathy has witnessed the countless efforts of remarkable leaders and educators over her tenure. She brings her enthusiasm and positivity to the Friends of the Children – Houston team and our children and families throughout our communities.