Sherly Chavarria named Pahara Fellow and re-appointed to Illinois State Board of Education

March 13, 2025

The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation is proud to share that Sherly Chavarria, Senior Program Officer for Education, has been selected for the prestigious Pahara Fellowship and re-appointed by Governor J.B. Pritzker to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for a four-year term. Sherly was also nominated to serve as Secretary of the ISBE Board, furthering her leadership in advancing educational equity across the state.

The Pahara Fellowship is a highly selective, year-long program designed to strengthen and sustain a diverse community of values-driven leaders who are transforming public education. Fellows engage in deep reflection, peer dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving to accelerate their individual and collective impact—particularly in communities serving low-income children and families.

We are thrilled to see Sherly’s leadership recognized on both the state and national stage and look forward to the insights and impact she will continue to bring to the Foundation.

Read more about the 2025 Pahara Fellows here.