As assistant principal and dean of students at Compass Academy – a project-based 9-12 magnet school in Idaho Falls – Kelly Sheridan radiates positivity and a passion for helping students and colleagues alike reach their highest potential. The school’s former art teacher, Sheridan has made a dynamic impact on campus climate by infusing art into core curricula, serving as an instructional leader, and forming trusted relationships across the faculty. Her unique mix of classroom and leadership experience has served her well in her current role.
In her short years as a school leader, Sheridan never settles for complacency sitting in front of her computer. Instead she thrives in the hallways or in the classroom, greeting students, collaborating with colleagues or communicating with parents. Helping to lead Compass’ instructional program, Sheridan has continued her involvement in the Guiding Coalition, a leadership team dedicated to designing and implementing professional development. A large consumer of data and research-based instructional strategies, Sheridan provides frameworks for teachers to align their instruction to meet state standards of excellence.
Sheridan’s deep knowledge of state testing and credit recovery is a strong asset to her role as school coordinator for the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT assessments. She organizes the entire testing experience, from preparing students to providing a conductive testing environment for students to do their best work. Sheridan promptly reviews scores with her principal to determine improvements for the following year. Additionally, Sheridan’s monitoring of student progress and engagement with families helped increase the school’s graduation rate, which exceeds that of the district and state.
Sheridan’s impact extends beyond the classroom into the community where she plans engaging family outreach events and builds strategic partnerships, such as with local coffee shops, libraries and museums to display student work, as well as with the local zoo to produce an art exhibit for Earth Day and bring awareness to additional zoo conservation efforts. She is active in the Idaho Association of School Administrators (IASA), the district’s graduation committee, and the school safety committee as well as serves as Compass’ summer school director. Her far-reaching leadership underscores her dedication to creating a culture of determination, ownership and growth among students and staff.
Sheridan earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art with a minor in art education in 2015 from James Madison University and a Master of Education in educational leadership from the University of Idaho in 2021.
Press release: Idaho Falls School Leader Surprised with $25,000 Milken Educator Award for Exceptional Innovation and Maximizing the Potential for All
