Shelby Chollett

Shelby has been a part of the Sauk Rapids-Rice school district since 2013 upon graduating with her Communication Arts and Literature degree from St. Cloud State University. She has taken on several roles, including teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Language Arts, Honors and Co-taught courses, a Career Explorations Allied Arts Course, Read 180, and Academic Achievement & Support Services Specialist.

During her first year in Sauk Rapids-Rice, she piloted Schoology and experimented with learner choice and motivation through growth portfolios. She has been geeking out ever since, achieving her Master's of Education from St. Mary's University of Minnesota in 2016, her Reading Endorsement from Concordia University in 2017, and her Doctorate in Educational Administration & Leadership from St. Cloud State University in 2020.

Along with educational nerdery, Shelby is very involved in and passionate about work surrounding diversity and inclusion. Coming from a large, diverse, multiracial/cultural family, as well as being the daughter of a Korean immigrant, Shelby serves as an advocate and provides a lens that stems from her background and experiences. She has done extensive work regarding diversity and cultural competency, has facilitated the Gay-Straight Alliance for Sauk Rapids-Rice, and assists in staff Diversity Discussions.

Shelby is the founder and developer of the research website The Pedagogical Refinery, as well as the co-founder of the Startup School ILT Academy where she connects, develops, and trains underestimated innovators and entrepreneurs from underserved regions in skillsets needed to solve important problems and create great companies.

Shelby's devotion toward remaining inclusively human-centered as an educator and entrepreneur is the primary purpose for her research and studies in areas regarding the human condition and behavior. Her utmost goal is to help people see and interact with the world to their best ability by creating equitable opportunities and fostering their potential.