New Burrell School Board president, a psychiatric nurse and black belt, says she's ready for the job

Pam Key, a preschool teacher, psychiatric nurse, martial artist and grandmother, has been chosen to lead Burrell School Board as it tries to navigate a historic pandemic with educational challenges.

She succeeds board member and former board president Tricia Shank, who nominated Key to lead the nine-member board.

“It was time to let another board member sit in that seat,” Shank said. “She is a wonderful person with many years on the board now.”

Key is up for the challenge as Burrell plows ahead as one of the few districts to successfully offer full in-person instruction with an option to learn virtually during most of the pandemic this school year.

After going virtual between Thanksgiving and the winter holiday recess, the district returned to full in-person instruction Tuesday.

“I am respectful of others’ views, welcome discussions and believe that differences of opinions are essential,” Key said. “I try to look at how things impact our students, our staff and our parents.”

Key, 63, has been serving on the school board for more than 6 years. Married 23 years with six children and four grandchildren, she has worked as a psychiatric nurse for children and adolescents for 30 years.

In the past 17 years, Key, a preschool teacher, has been the owner of a child care center and preschool in Lower Burrell.

“I’d like to think that my experience as a mother, grandmother, early childhood education teacher, small-­business owner and my mental health background would bring different thoughts and ideas to the table of our school board,” she said.

Key also holds a third-­degree black belt in taekwondo and is training for her fourth-degree black belt.