Meet Heather
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Board member Heather Spivey Howell proudly serves the Sleepy Hole Borough on the Suffolk School Board, which includes Driver, Harborview, Bennetts Creek, and Belleharbour.
Heather’s leadership on the board is grounded by her civility. Heather believes the success of our schools requires collaboration and healthy discussions among the community, board members, and school employees. For two of her three years on the board, Heather has been elected by the board to serve as Vice Chair, this year by a unanimous vote. On the board, Heather has served on the finance committee, the WHRO Foundation committee and the policy committee. On these committees, Heather works with fellow committee members to discuss changes that will affect Suffolk Schools and the Sleepy Hole Borough.
Heather grew up in Suffolk and graduated from Nansemond River High School. After graduating from UNC Charlotte, she returned home to teach for Suffolk Public Schools. For more than 10 years, she served as a special education teacher and later, a reading intervention teacher at both the elementary and middle school levels. Heather was awarded Rookie Teacher of the Year, Reading Teacher of the Year, along with many other awards. Heather worked as an intern supervisor at Regent University, supervising student teaching interns in the graduate program of the Special Education Department.
Heather lives in Brittany Farms with her husband Shawn, two children, Avery and Addison, and two Labradoodles, Liberty and Dixie. Heather is a member of Believers Church in Suffolk. Her passions including reading, traveling, and advocating for children with disabilities.
Feel free to send an email to heatherhowell@spsk12.net to start a conversation that could change our students' lives for the better!
The whole people must take upon themselves the education of the whole people, and must be willing to bear the expenses of it. There should not be a district of one mile square, without a school in it, not founded by a charitable individual, but maintained at the public expense of the people themselves.
John Adams
Heather In The News
“I relayed at first because it was a healing experience, after losing my dad,” said Heather Howell. “But now it’s for my kids. Hopefully they’ll never know not only what it’s like to have cancer, but also to lose a parent to cancer.” Read more at: https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2014/04/12/good-reasons-to-relay/
Howell said summer school makes a big difference in the education of students who need extra help because gaps in instruction can cause regression. Read more at: https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2011/07/12/schools-not-out/
Howell discussed the importance of taking a community-based approach to education. She reflected on tutoring at recreation centers and neighborhood clubhouses, where parents also learned how to support their children at home. “We are given five hours a day with these children, who may get their only meal or meals at school, and who may or may not have electricity to do their homework,” Howell said. “What’s important in closing this gap is that we build partnerships with families again, teaching and transferring skills to the community and home, so learning extends beyond the school day.” Read more at: https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2024/09/11/school-board-candidates-discuss-key-issues-at-forum-video/
I was born and raised in Suffolk, Virginia. I graduated from Nansemond River High School in 1995. I taught in SPS from 2001-2012 Read more at: https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2024/08/13/2024-election-sleepy-hole-borough-school-board-candidate-qa/?#boscoforsuffolkd-candidate-qa/