Where I Started. Where I Stand.
Educator. Parent. Advocate. Dedicated to building inclusive, thriving public schools for every learner.
I’m Kimberlee Kelly, an educator, parent, and lifelong advocate dedicated to building inclusive, well-resourced public schools where every learner and educator can thrive. As a parent of an incoming Northshore student, I bring both the personal insight of a family navigating our school system and the professional expertise of an educator who has spent over 15 years designing and leading equitable, student-centered learning environments.
Why This Work Matters to Me
I was born and largely raised in one of the largest and most under-resourced counties in our nation. My childhood was shaped by poverty, food insecurity, and housing instability.
As a public school student, I attended both a high-performing and a low-performing high school. The difference in curriculum, resources, and college-preparatory support was stark. At the better-resourced school, I was clearly on a college-bound path. After transferring to a lower-resourced school, I continued to excel in Advanced Placement coursework but struggled to find the same level of support or academic rigor.
By the time I was a senior, I was unhoused and transient, trying to balance the demands of my AP courses while working part-time. Like many experiencing housing instability, I faced unsafe environments and encounters with violence. I went from being a top student to barely graduating. I almost didn’t make it to community college, let alone envision a path to a graduate degree as an educator.
Over the years, in addition to teaching more than 1,000 students, I’ve also raised two teens, both of whom attended public schools and are now in their 20s. Today, I’m parenting an incoming Northshore student.
These experiences have given me a firsthand understanding of how inequity operates, both in our society and in our schools. They have shown me how profoundly a zip code can shape a student’s future. As a public school student, a public school parent, and a public school teacher, I’m driven to help create schools that are not just equitable, but also safe, stable, and empowering for every child.
Rooted in Classroom Experience
I have designed programs that close years-wide learning gaps and have a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities our students and families face, from infancy through high school.
My journey in education began long before the classroom. In 2006, I served as the Teen Director at the Boys and Girls Club of Adelanto, where I cultivated youth leadership, engagement, and homework support for teens in an underserved area. While completing my degrees in Political Science and Applied Developmental Psychology at UCLA, I gained hands-on experience working with children at UCLA’s Krieger Early Care and Education Center and as a teaching intern in the Infant Development Program.
My formal teaching career began in 2011 as a Teach For America corps member, where I taught English and Social Studies to students from 7th through 12th grade. Over nine years in my vibrant, resilient placement community, I earned my teaching credentials with an English Learner Authorization, a Master’s in Education from Loyola Marymount University, and developed curricula grounded in a people’s history approach.
In my classrooms, I centered marginalized voices, explored resistance movements, and fostered critical thinking about power and justice, while building students’ reading, writing, and analytical skills through engaging, relevant content. I also worked extensively in Special Education, including several years as a district substitute supporting students with their push-in/pull-out minutes and as a one-on-one aide for high-needs students.
Naturally, my student advocacy grew beyond my classrooms walls, expanding into broader leadership roles, both at the school and district level, while I continued teaching full-time.
Leadership Beyond the Classroom
Long before I became a teacher—or declared my candidacy for the Northshore School Board, I stepped into another election.
In 2005, during my first year of college, I was elected Associated Student Body President at Victor Valley College and served as our student trustee on the school board. That was my first school board, but not my last.
During that time, I worked with local leaders to create student-centered solutions for our campus and traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with Members of Congress. I successfully lobbied for increased Pell Grant funding, advocating for college students across the nation.
Twenty years later, I bring that same tenacity and vision to the Northshore School Board today. I will champion policies that serve students in our schools—and advocate in Olympia for fully funded public education that supports every child, in every community.
At the public school and district level, I’ve led initiatives such as the development of a computer science department, launched mental health programs, and provided nationwide professional development to educators focused on trauma-informed, equity-driven instruction. I've served as our school's union elected representative on our campus Culture Committee, as teacher representative on our school board, and been appointed to sit on the district disciplinary review board alongside the superintendent.
I’ve been honored to speak at national forums, including multiple universities, conferences, Comic-Con International, the Knowledge Is Power Program School Summit, and to produce an education-centered TEDx event. Beyond the classroom, I’ve mentored youth through Rotary as an Interact Advisor, as well as served as keynote speaker, and later youth counselor, for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. I also co-created and co-hosted the Clever Girls Podcast, a platform that celebrates the stories of womxn throughout history and today, reaching listeners in more than 64 countries.
These leadership experiences reflect my deep commitment to education, representation, and empowerment, both personally and professionally.
Championing Early Childhood
& Community Health
Currently, I direct Little Fern Forest, a neurodiversity-affirming, occupational therapy-based forest preschool in Cottage Lake, Woodinville. Here, I support trauma-informed, relationship-centered, child-led learning that nurtures children’s natural curiosity and development in an inclusive, nature-immersed environment. This work embodies my belief that academic success begins with social-emotional learning and developmental support that honors the whole child.
I also work with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to provide professional development for King County staff through the Green Janitor Health Certification Program. Topics include worker safety and advocacy, environmental sustainability, and healthy facilities management aligned with county initiatives such as the Strategic Climate Action Plan, Green Building Ordinance, Re+ Initiative, and Climate and Workforce Strategy.
My work reflects a deep investment in our community and a holistic approach to service, grounded in the belief that every role matters in creating safe, welcoming, and thriving public spaces.
A Vision for Northshore’s Future
My work has always been about creating transformative learning spaces and vibrant communities where every learner, of every age, feels seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.
I humbly ask for your vote so that, together, we can ensure every Northshore school is inclusive, well-funded, and fully prepared to meet the needs of all learners in our diverse community.
01
Expanding access to equitable special education, bilingual, and culturally responsive programs across the district
02
Fostering identity-affirming, restorative school cultures that celebrate every student’s background and identity
03
Ensuring frontline educators and support staff have the training, tools, and compensation they deserve
04
Reassessing school boundaries to more equitably distribute our district's students across all of our schools
05
Advocating tirelessly for sustainable, progressive funding at both the local and state levels
Trusted by Educators and Community Leaders
"Kimberlee Kelly has earned the trust of educators, families, and community leaders because she shows up with experience, integrity, and a deep commitment to public education. Her endorsement by the Northshore Education Association speaks volumes. She understands what it takes to support students and staff, and she’ll be a powerful advocate for equity, inclusion, and strong public schools. I’m proud to support her for Northshore School Board."
Senator Derek Stanford
1st Legislative District - Bothell
"Kimberlee Kelly brings exactly the kind of thoughtful, equity-driven leadership we need on the Northshore School Board. Her deep experience as an educator, her unwavering commitment to inclusive public schools, and her personal story of resilience give her a rare perspective and a powerful voice for students, families, and frontline staff alike. I trust Kimberlee to lead with both heart and expertise, and I’m proud to support her."
Councilmember Michelle Evans
Woodinville City Council
KIMBERLEE KELLY
for Northshore School Board
2025