Shelly Norden

Executive Director  

      Shelly Norden, from Fauquier County, Virginia, began her communications career with a BA from George Mason University, then worked as a TV news producer in West Palm Beach, Florida, for CBS and FOX affiliates.

    In 2000, she embarked on a new career path, beginning her teaching journey in Florida. She continued her work as a high school journalism and English teacher upon returning to Virginia in 2002. Over the next 22 years, she earned top rankings for her programs and received several teaching awards, including Rookie Teacher of the Year in 2000 and 2001 and Teacher of the Year in 2016.

      As a volunteer, Shelly served on the Virginia High School League Publications Advisory Committee and the Verdun Adventure Bound Board of Directors. She also served on the Fauquier County Crime Commission.

     In 2017, she founded Citizen Cents to promote financial transparency in school districts. Now a freelance reporter and Executive Director with SBMA, Shelly is an MPA candidate at Lamar University. She lives in Fauquier with her husband, two Jack Russell Terriers, and an African Gray parrot.

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Jill Turgeon

Policy and Governance Specialist

   Jill Turgeon brings a wealth of expertise to her role as the Governance and Policy Specialist for the School Board Member Alliance (SBMA), combining nearly two decades of experience in educational policy, governance, and charter school development. She served two terms as an elected member of the Loudoun County School Board, representing the Blue Ridge District from 2012 to 2019, including a tenure as Vice-Chairman.

     As the founder and president of Stature Consulting, Jill guides schools in implementing effective governance practices and policies and supports civic groups in developing charter schools. She has also served as a School Governance Specialist for Athlos Academies, focusing on coaching and legislative relations. Jill’s extensive network of connections at state and federal levels enables her to build strong partnerships in advocacy and policy development.

Jill holds a Master of Education from Shenandoah University and a Bachelor of Science in Family Science from Brigham Young University. Her dedication to education and governance underscores her commitment to improving opportunities for all children to achieve academic excellence.

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Dora Purvis

Outreach Coordinator

     Dora Purvis discovered her love for teaching at the age of 14 when she taught Sunday School and consequently has been teaching in some capacity ever since.

     She is a graduate of Pensacola Christian College with a bachelors in Music Education and Spanish and is a fully certified Spanish teacher through the VDOE.

     Aside from teaching in the public school sector, Mrs. Purvis has also taught in private schools and homeschool co-ops, has run her own private voice and piano studio, coached volleyball, coordinated community events, directed children’s musical productions, sung oratorios in churches, and performed with professional opera companies.

     She was elected to the Bedford County School Board in November of 2023. She is a mother of two grown children and a grandmother of 3 grandchildren. She resides with her husband of 28 years and enjoys interior decorating and advocating for community transformation.

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Michelle Murch

Digital Media & Website Manager

     Michelle Murch brings over a decade of expertise in web design, social media management, and digital content creation to her role as SBMA's Digital Media & Website Manager. With a strong background in leveraging technology to streamline workflows and enhance user experiences, Michelle has built a reputation as a tech problem-solver and creative strategist.

     Her professional journey includes managing web infrastructure, developing social media strategies, and producing high-quality digital content across various industries, including education, media, and small business. Michelle’s experience spans web design, search engine optimization (SEO), graphic design, video production, and event coordination. She has successfully spearheaded projects such as launching electronic newsletters, designing websites, and improving internal processes for organizations like Noah Webster Educational Foundation and New Geneva Leadership Academy.

     With a passion for efficiency and innovation, Michelle plays a pivotal role in SBMA’s mission, ensuring its digital platforms effectively communicate with and serve members across Virginia.

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