SRQ Magazine | October 2021 | Women Who Roar Special Feature

WOMAN WHO ROAR | FALL 2021

DR. RACHEL SHELLEY

PRINCIPAL, BOOKER HIGH SCHOOL

“Every day I am thankful for the opportunity: the opportunityto inspire; the opportunity to encourage; and the opportunity tomotivate our students, our staff and our community.”

I AM DR. RACHEL SHELLEY, THE PROUD PRINCIPAL OF BOOKER HIGH SCHOOL and the co-founder of Booker Promise Foundation, a program providing college scholarships to economically deprived Booker High School students. Booker Promise is my promise to our students to help them navigate their futures successfully. Their journey doesn’t end upon crossing the stage while clutching a diploma. It continues until they have the skills necessary to live the life of their dreams. My story is one of someone who came from low-income housing to become a community leader, a popular and successful principal, and a woman on a mission. I want all my students to know they can do it too—whatever their passion or goals—they can overcome life’s obstacles. I look forward to the day when the Booker Promise becomes the “Sarasota Promise” and our entire community steps up and replicates our efforts at Booker Promise.

BOOKER PROMISE FOUNDATION 3201 North Orange Ave. Sarasota, FL | 941-928-0567 | BookerPromise.org