Greenwood Charter Academy (GCA) parent Ms. Chelsea Blakeley was named the 2025 Lynn Higgins Volunteer of the Year at the Charter Institute at Erskine’s Awards Banquet on Thursday night.
Blakeley was nominated for this statewide award by her school community. Kirsten Mobley, GCA Principal, shares that Blakeley spends “all of her extra time” at the school. She is President of the Parent Teacher Organization and takes a lead role in planning fundraising events like Trunk or Treats, Back to School Bashes, Talent Shows, Fun Runs, Valentines Day flower grams, and more.
Blakeley was the driving force behind GCA’s on-campus store, which she started from scratch. She led the charge on making GCA’s uniform room look like a clothing store complete with a dressing room and a cashier desk.
“Our school would not be the same without the tireless work of Mrs. Blakeley. She is very appreciated and very much well-deserving of this honor,” said Mobley.
The Institute’s Volunteer of the Year award was named to honor Ms. Lynn Higgins, a late grandparent of a student at Clear Dot Charter School. Higgins was behind the formation of a volunteer program at Clear Dot and her legacy is defined by her kind, generous, and selfless spirit.
Blakeley was recognized with a certificate and an award.
“Volunteering at Greenwood Charter Academy has been such a rewarding part of my life,” said Blakeley. “This school feels like home, and I just want to help wherever I can. I’m truly honored to receive this award and grateful to be part of such a special community.”
Greenwood Charter Academy is a tuition-free public charter school serving grades 4K-7 in Greenwood and beyond. GCA’s mission is to continuously develop the next generation of American citizens by developing creative, problem-solving minds through the education of the whole student. GCA is authorized by the Charter Institute at Erskine. For more information, visit www.gcharter.education.
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Tutelage School Solutions is an award-winning comprehensive service provider for high-quality public charter schools in South Carolina. Tutelage assists their schools in all phases from charter application, school design, development, finance, construction, operations, marketing, and curricula.
The Charter Institute at Erskine is the fastest-growing school district in South Carolina. Serving 26 schools and approximately 30,000 students across the state, the Charter Institute at Erskine is committed to innovative, creative, high-quality methods of education. For more information about the Institute, please visit www.erskinecharters.org.
