Shelly Locke resigns from State School Board

State Board of Education member Shelly Locke, North Logan, resigned Friday, citing an overloaded personal schedule.

Locke, a homemaker, is a national and international speaker on parenting issues. She recently gave a pro-family address in Amsterdam at the World Congress of Families and now has numerous international speaking invitations.

Locke is just wrapping up her first year of a four-year term on the board, representing District 1, which includes Cache, Rich, Morgan, Box Elder and part of Summit counties. Her resignation will be effective at the end of the year.

"It was a tough decision," Locke said. "I really thought I would be here the whole term. But it's a matter of being able to do a really good job for the board. My calendar is so full."

Locke has a double bachelor's degree from Utah State University: family and human development, with an emphasis in early childhood; and social work, with an emphasis in children in crisis.

She has two children and was Utah's Young Mother of the Year in 2007.

Locke's resignation Friday afternoon comes after the board just filled a seat that has been empty since March.

BYU science professor Craig Coleman, 51, of Genola, was appointed by Gov. Gary Herbert in November to represent District 3 on the board. Coleman was sworn in Friday morning. District 3 includes Tooele County and part of Utah County.

Herbert also will name Locke's successor, subject to Senate approval.

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