Dr. Kelly Sherrill Linkous

Dr. Kelly Sherrill Linkous headshot

Dr. Kelly Sherrill Linkous

Assistant Professor, Educational Administration


School: Graduate School of Education and Human Development

Department: Educational Leadership

Contact:

Office Phone: (571) 553-3772

Kelly Sherrill Linkous, Esq., J.D., Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Educational Leadership and Administration (ELA) program. She serves as a co-coordinator and adviser in ELA’s doctoral program coordinator, and served as an ELA program director from 2017-2022.

Dr. Sherrill Linkous’ legal research expertise includes special education law, First Amendment law, student rights, employment law, and other areas of law applicable and relevant to public schools. She is an Editorial Board member of the Education Law and Policy Review. She teaches School Law to MA, EdS, and post-master’s certificate students, as well as doctoral-level courses on Leadership and Dissertation writing. She has chaired or is chairing over 53 dissertation studies.

Dr. Sherrill Linkous has received numerous teaching awards at GW. In 2022, she earned the prestigious Morton A. Bender Award, becoming a member of the selective Academy for Distinguished Teachers. For seven consecutive years (2012-2018), Dr. Sherrill Linkous was one of fewer than 10 professors nominated for the university-wide Honey S. Nashman Faculty Member of the Award, winning the award in 2015. In 2012, Dr. Sherrill Linkous was awarded the Dean’s Outstanding GSEHD Faculty Award.

Dr. Sherrill Linkous obtained her J.D. from GW in 2001 and her Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Policy from the University of Georgia in 2009. She maintains her license to practice law in Virginia and Georgia, and continues to provide pro bono legal representation for education law matters on a case-by-case basis. She is an active member of the Education Law Association and the Council for Exceptional Children. Dr. Sherrill Linkous has served on the Board of Trustees for the Children’s Guild DC Public Charter School, which specializes in serving children with autism and severe emotional and behavioral disabilities. In her personal time, she advocates for children who have twice-exceptionalities, rescues and fosters Labrador Retrievers through Lab Rescue of the LRCP, and teaches multiple elementary school science and law/government classes to third through fifth graders.


Ph.D., University of Georgia

J.D., The George Washington University

M.Ed., University of Georgia

B.S.Ed., University of Georgia

  • LEGAL:
    • PreK-12 Education Law, including specialization in Constitutional Law (e.g., free speech, free exercise, Establishment Clause, S&S, due process, equal protection, etc.)
    • Special Education Law (IDEA, 504/ADA, gifted education)
    • Student Discipline
    • Compulsory Education
    • Homeschooling
    • Employment Law
    • Law of Student Records
    • School Board and School District Governance
    • Title IX
  • OTHER:
    • Scholarship related to advanced academics, gifted education, homeschooling, K-12 athletics, leadership in special programming (e.g., special education, gifted education, EL programming)

Dayton, J., & Sherrill Linkous, K. (Jan. 2015). WASHINGTON, D. C. LAW SUPPLEMENT: EDUCATION LAW – PRINCIPLES, POLICIES, AND PRACTICE, Pub: Create Space. (in press)

Dayton, J., & Sherrill Linkous, K. (Jan. 2015). VIRGINIA LAW SUPPLEMENT: EDUCATION LAW – PRINCIPLES, POLICIES, AND PRACTICE, Pub: Create Space. (in press)

Sherrill Linkous, K. (expected Winter 2015). Mother, may I? No you may not! The constitutionality of parental consent requirements for student participation in extracurricular activities and clubs, forthcoming EDUC. LAW & POL’Y R. (in press)

Sherrill, K., & Reichhardt, W. (2013). Student Records: Legal Requirements You Need to Know, National Business Institute.

Sherrill, K. (May 2003). The equal access act and gay/straight clubs. Inquiry & Analysis, National School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys.

Sherrill, K. (August 2002). Judicial review: The supreme court broadens the scope of drug testing in public schools. The State Education Standard, 3(4).

Sherrill, K., & McQueen, K. (Winter 2001). The high price of campaign promises: Ill-conceived labor responsibility policy, 30 PUB. CONTRACT L. J. 267.

Commeyras, M., Sherrill, K., & Wuenker, K. (1996). Trusting students’ questions about literature: Stories across contexts in LIVELY DISCUSSIONS! FOSTERING ENGAGED READING, Int’l Reading Ass’n Pub.

Sherrill, K. (June 2004). May school districts require disclosure of an applicant’s social security number? Inquiry & Analysis, National School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys.