Kelly Perdue Linkenhoker brings a lifetime of leadership, heart, and competitive spirit to Oceanside Collegiate Academy. Born in Radford, Virginia, Kelly entered the world six weeks early alongside her twin sister, Kim Blair — who proudly reminds everyone she is two minutes older. The twins spent over a month in the hospital before reaching five pounds, and when their father arrived home on military leave to meet them, he famously said they looked like “skinned squirrels.” From the very beginning, Kelly’s story has been one of grit and perseverance.
Raised in a hardworking, tight-knit family, Kelly credits her parents and siblings as the most influential forces in her life. Her father, a Virginia Tech graduate and entrepreneur, co-founded Millwork Supply, a door company he built from the ground up alongside her mother. Kelly, her twin, and their brother grew up working long hours in the family business — loading tractor trailers, operating machinery, and learning firsthand the value of discipline and teamwork. Those lessons, combined with her family’s competitive nature, fueled her love for athletics.
At Blacksburg High School, Kelly excelled both academically and athletically. She served as class president alongside her twin and was a four-year captain and starter on the varsity basketball team, also competing in volleyball, gymnastics, and track. Her competitive fire was legendary — she even began her freshman year with a black eye courtesy of a heated basketball matchup with her sister. In 1989, she was named Female Athlete of the Year, a testament to her leadership and drive.
Kelly continued her education at Virginia Tech, earning undergraduate degrees in Family Child Development and Psychology in 1993, followed by a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (1995). She later earned an additional M.A. Ed. in Administration and Supervision PK–12 from Radford University and completed her Ed.D. in Leadership and Learning in Organizations at Vanderbilt University in 2023. Her dissertation, Enrollment Trends in Smaller Communities and How to Impact Growth for Student Engagement, reflects her deep commitment to strengthening schools and communities.
Over a distinguished career spanning more than 25 years, Kelly has served as a classroom teacher (K, 1st, 3rd, and 4th grades), assistant principal, principal at both elementary and high school levels, and assistant superintendent. Her honors include McGlothlin Award Runner-Up (2014), Teacher of the Year (2014), and the Rotary Award (2026). She describes her leadership and teaching style as grounded in the art and science of teaching and learning, always centered on helping students and educators discover their potential and purpose.
Kelly was drawn to Oceanside Collegiate Academy by its strong athletic program, college pathway focus, tradition of excellence, and commitment to teaching and learning. For her, the most rewarding part of education is watching students grow — academically, personally, and spiritually.
Family remains at the center of Kelly’s life. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Bill Linkenhoker, a fellow Blacksburg High School and Virginia Tech graduate who now works as a Realtor with Nest Realty. Together they have three children: Will, a Virginia Tech graduate and three-time state soccer champion now working at Freddie Mac; Sarah Grace, a Virginia Tech graduate in Marketing Management; and Maddie, a graduate of NRCC with a degree in Human Services. Their home is also shared with two chocolate labs, Beaux and Remy.
Outside of school, Kelly enjoys fishing on the New River — a cherished childhood tradition — cheering on Virginia Tech football (especially when Enter Sandman fills the stadium), and listening to Matchbox Twenty, Hootie & the Blowfish, Old Dominion, and Zach Bryan. She loves the film A Few Good Men — especially the iconic line, “You can’t handle the truth!” — and finds inspiration in To Kill a Mockingbird and Theodore Roosevelt’s “The Man in the Arena.”
At her core, Kelly Linkenhoker is a competitor, educator, servant leader, and lifelong learner — driven by faith, family, and a steadfast belief that schools have the power to transform lives.
