Staunton School Board: Two incumbents won't seek reelection. Who will be running in November?
STAUNTON — The Staunton School Board will see changes in 2025. There are three current members whose terms will expire at the end of the year and two have announced they will be not seeking reelection.
Current Chair Natasha McCurdy and Vice-Chair Robert Boyle have both said they won't be running for another term.
McCurdy has been on the board since 2018, winning a two-year term in a special election that year before winning a four-year term in 2020. When asked if she was running, McCurdy simply told The News Leader, "No, I'm done."
Boyle was first elected in 2012 and has served three terms. He told The News Leader, "I will not be running again. Twelve years is plenty."
The only incumbent running for reelection will be Ron Ramsey. According to Staunton's registrar Christi Linhoss, Ramsey has filed to run. He was first elected in 2004 and has served four non-consecutive terms.
Two newcomers will seek election to the school board in November. Both Joann Jeter and Michele Kielty confirmed to The News Leader that they are running. Linhoss said both have filed.
Jeter first came to Staunton in 2001 as an actor with Shenandoah Shakespeare Express, a traveling troupe that was the predecessor to American Shakespeare Center. She met her life partner while in Staunton and the two moved away for 10 years before returning in 2015.
Jeter has worked with children in many capacities from a young age and now works with children and families with special needs, including autism. She has two children in Staunton City Schools and has been an active PTA member.
Kielty has lived in Staunton since 2002, first arriving in the area when she took a job at James Madison University. She is a professor of counseling and the director of the school counseling program at JMU.
Kielty has two sons that have gone through Staunton City Schools. One is now in college and the other is in eighth grade at Shelburne Middle School.
The general election this year is Tuesday, Nov 5. The Staunton School Board will have three seats up for election. The last day to file as a candidate is Tuesday, June 18.
If you are interested in running for local office, see the document below or visit the elected officials section of the registrar's page located on the City of Staunton's website.
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— Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Who is running for the Staunton School Board in November?
