Her Story
About Holly
Holly Honeycutt is an experienced educational leader with 22 years of service in public education and school administration. She currently serves as Associate Director, Chief Operations Officer, Principal, and Director of Special Education at West Virginia Academy in the Greater Morgantown Area, West Virginia’s first brick-and-mortar public charter school. In this role, she leads a team of 45 professionals serving approximately 260 students from preschool through 12th grade, overseeing school operations, instructional leadership, compliance, enrollment, and special education services. Holly began her career as a special education teacher working with high school students across all disability categories before transitioning to elementary education, where she discovered her greatest passion in early literacy and helping children develop foundational reading skills. After eight years in the classroom teaching kindergarten through fifth grade, she advanced into a seven-year role as an IEP Compliance Specialist with Monongalia County Schools, where she provided professional development across multiple schools and facilitated complex meetings with families, educators, and legal teams to ensure compliance and student support. In addition to her professional leadership, Holly is passionate about reading, spending time with her family, and supporting her sons as they play lacrosse. She also enjoys outdoor activities and values time spent exploring and working with the Allegheny Trail system. Her commitment to education extends beyond the workplace through her advocacy for school choice and expanding educational opportunities for families. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she finds balance and inspiration in both her family life and connection to nature, all of which continue to fuel her dedication to student success and educational growth.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Holly
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work and perseverance. I've also been fortunate to have really good mentors throughout my career who have guided me and supported me along the way. My best friend has been with me throughout every part of my career, from teaching to specialist to principal, and she always reminds me to stop for a minute, breathe, and be proud of myself and how far I've come. When things get tough, I look at a post-it note she wrote for me probably 15 years ago that says to reflect and just live in that moment. Sometimes it doesn't feel real what I do every day, but having people who believe in you and push you to recognize your own accomplishments has been invaluable.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received sounds so simple, but it's honestly just keep swimming. My best friend gave me a post-it note probably 15 years ago that I still look at when things get tough. It says to stop for a minute, breathe, and be proud of yourself and how far you've come. She's been with me throughout every part of my career, from teaching to specialist to principal, and she always tells me to stop for a minute and reflect and just live in that moment. Sometimes it doesn't feel real what I do every day, and that reminder to pause, look back at what I've accomplished, and be present has carried me through the challenging times.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering education is to find a good mentor. Be open and willing to learn, because there's so much to absorb about the ins and outs of the field, the laws, and the processes. It's going to take hard work, and you have to be willing to put in that effort to get the outcome you want. And here's the most important part: if you fail, it's okay. You've got to get up and try again. The opportunities in this field are endless, but you have to ask yourself if you're willing to put the hard work in to achieve them. The reward of working with children, watching them grow and learn, is incredible, but it requires perseverance and resilience.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in education today is maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Like many in the field, I sometimes struggle with this personally, as the demands of supporting students, staff, and school operations often extend well beyond the traditional workday, including evenings when urgent responsibilities arise. However, despite these challenges, the opportunities in education are incredibly rewarding. There is deep fulfillment in watching students grow academically, socially, and personally, and in seeing them reach important milestones such as graduation and pursue their goals in fields like teaching, outdoor education, and higher education at institutions such as West Virginia University, BYU, and Coastal Carolina University. Ultimately, the privilege of working with children and witnessing their progress over time makes the demands of the profession worthwhile and continues to inspire my commitment to education.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are integrity, respect, perseverance when things get hard, honesty, and being humble. You have to learn how to persevere through something when challenges arise. And being humble is especially important because being in the world of education can humble you real fast. These values guide everything I do, both in my role as an administrator and in my personal life. They're the foundation of how I lead my team, work with families, and interact with my students every single day.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.