Photo courtesy of Kathryn Beard
Dr. Kathryn H. Beard has announced her candidacy for the Botetourt County School Board, Buchanan District. She brings more than 35 years of experience in education as a teacher, administrator, and higher education leader. A longtime resident of Botetourt County, Beard has held Virginia Department of Education licensure in Administration, English, History, Marketing, Business, and Family and Consumer Sciences.
“With over 35 years of service in education, ranging from K–12 classrooms to higher education administration, I am running for the Botetourt County School Board to bring a lifetime of experience, proven leadership, and a deep commitment to our students, educators, and families,” Beard stated. “Now retired, I can devote my full attention to serving the community. Education has always been my passion, and I will continue to listen to parents, support teachers, and ensure our schools remain strong, responsive, and student-centered.”
Throughout her career, Dr. Beard has worked in nearly every corner of the education system. As the Dual Enrollment Coordinator at Virginia Western Community College, she collaborated with six public school divisions and three private school systems across the Roanoke Valley—many of which included Botetourt students. Each year, she supported over 100 credentialed high school instructors and coordinated programs serving more than 2,500 students and nine regional academies. She helped students earn associate degrees, transfer credentials, industry certifications, and complete coursework in both career and technical education (CTE) and college transfer pathways while still in high school.
Previously, she served as the Coordinator of Career and Technical Education, supervising more than 60 instructors, managing multi-million-dollar budgets, launching STEM initiatives, and expanding workforce readiness programs. She also led the development of Academic and Career Plans (ACP) for middle and high school students in CTE pathways. In addition, she served as an administrator for the Adult Education Program, supporting GED and ISAEP students, and worked closely with special needs students to support their Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals.
Dr. Beard’s platform highlights key priorities she believes are critical for the future of Botetourt County schools. These include school safety, supporting teacher recruitment and retention, and ensuring equitable access to high-quality educational opportunities for all students. She supports expanding access to CTE programs and dual enrollment, and promoting a wide range of academic and extracurricular options—including fine arts, apprenticeships, and leadership development—to meet diverse student needs.
She also advocates for transparent use of taxpayer dollars and supports efforts to integrate homeschooling students into school activities and academic programs through online learning options and regional partnerships.
Additional areas of focus include addressing post-COVID academic decline in core subjects like reading and math, improving student mental health support, and modernizing outdated school infrastructure while managing limited budgets and declining federal support. She emphasizes the importance of restoring public confidence in the public school system, especially as more families consider homeschooling or private education for a variety of reasons.
In addition to her professional roles, Dr. Beard has presented at both state and national education conferences, spoken at homeschool association meetings, and authored a book focusing on the needs of at-risk students. She has held leadership positions within the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) at the national, state, and regional levels, including serving as vice president of the ACTE Administrators division. She is also a member of Omicron Tau Theta, an honorary society for education professionals. Her work has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Award for Exceptional and Exemplary Contributions to Vocational Education.
She has also served on the Botetourt BTEC Advisory Board for many years and has participated in various committees and advisory boards at Virginia Western Community College and in local secondary schools to help ensure that programs remain responsive to community and workforce needs.
“I want to continue serving our community by ensuring our schools remain strong, responsive, and student-centered,” Beard said. “I am committed to listening to parents, supporting our teachers, and preparing every student for success in higher education, the workforce, and in life. My experience, professional expertise, and almost 40 years as a resident in Botetourt give me the perspective to lead and to collaborate effectively with parents, educators, and community partners for the benefit of our students.”
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
