Sheila Holas, EdD
Dr. Sheila Holas is the Founder and Executive Director of Blue Ribbon Results Academy and a nationally recognized educational leader with more than 37 years of experience spanning preschool teaching, school leadership, and curriculum innovation. Beginning her career as a preschool teacher in a Title I school, she steadily advanced to roles as teacher specialist, assistant principal, and principal within Norfolk Public Schools. Her leadership in school improvement led to her campus being named a National Blue Ribbon School and to her recognition as one of the most outstanding principals in the United States. Driven by a passion for serving children with special needs and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds, Dr. Holas ultimately founded her own preschool, where 95% of students enter kindergarten reading at or above a first-grade level.
A visionary in brain-based education, Dr. Holas developed Teaching Preschoolers With the Brain in Mind, a neuroscience-informed, fully scripted curriculum approved by the Virginia Department of Education. She also authored Amazed! Children’s Ministry Curriculum, a Christ-centered resource designed to help children grow in faith using developmentally appropriate, brain-based strategies, and is developing a companion middle school curriculum titled Amazed! Who Do They Say I Am? Her work blends research, faith, and practical systems thinking—equipping educators with high-yield strategies that accelerate achievement, strengthen classroom engagement, and promote equity. In addition to leading her schools, she is creating college-level syllabi to train future educators in effective early childhood instruction grounded in how the brain learns best.
Dr. Holas earned advanced degrees from Nova Southeastern University and University of Virginia, focusing on educational leadership and brain-based practices. She was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Virginia Interagency Coordinating Council and contributes to statewide efforts supporting early intervention and high-quality education. Beyond her professional work, she actively supports organizations such as St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and leads children’s ministry at her church. An avid reader and nature enthusiast, Dr. Holas remains deeply committed to empowering teachers, inspiring children, and strengthening families through innovative, Kingdom-minded educational leadership.
• Founder & CEO, Blue Ribbon Results Academies
• Nova Southeastern University - EdD
• Selected as One of Nine Most Outstanding Principals in the United States
• Virginia agency coordinating council
• St. Jude
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to following God’s calling. From the start, my focus was never on making money but on serving children with special needs. Seeing their growth—like toddlers who couldn’t speak now thriving in Pre-K, reading, and calling me by name—is incredibly rewarding. Witnessing their progress is what truly brings me joy and pride.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this field is to drive with purpose. Know your calling and don’t let others define your value or limit your vision. Invest deeply in gaining knowledge, developing leadership skills, networking, and striving for excellence—consistently. Think beyond immediate success and focus on the legacy you want to leave by creating pathways for those who follow. Trust your instincts, pursue your goals with intention, and commit to excellence in everything you do.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in my field include limited access to quality early childhood education, socioeconomic barriers that families face, and, at times, reluctance from school leaders to serve students with higher needs due to public accountability pressures. The opportunities, however, are immense: implementing brain-based practices and creating systems that ensure equitable learning experiences for all children.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both work and life are faith, integrity, excellence, service, perseverance, and legacy. Faith guides my purpose, and integrity ensures I do what’s right, even when it’s difficult. Excellence matters because the children and families we serve deserve our very best. Service reminds me that leadership is about contribution, not personal gain. Perseverance helps me stay committed when progress is slow, and legacy keeps me focused on building something meaningful that endures and uplifts others long after I’m gone.