Henrico School Board's Marcie Shea to serve on board through breast cancer 'as long as... health and treatment plan allow'

Henrico School Board Vice Chair Marcie Shea posted a video on Facebook Monday afternoon, sharing that she has stage four breast cancer.

The week before winter break, Shea found out that her breast cancer had returned in an inoperable manner, she said.

“As long as my health and treatment plan allow, I plan to continue to serve the Tuckahoe District on the Henrico County School Board,” Shea said in the video. “I'm going to have to learn to find some new balance in the coming months as I endure the most rigorous parts of treatment. But I'm still here to hear, represent and advocate for you.

“There's a lot of work to be done in our district and our division work that requires a deep institutional knowledge and a focus on students, staff and families, not political stepping stones.”

During the past few months, Shea was serving as a substitute teacher in schools to help mitigate the substitute teacher shortage. She said she won’t be able to continue substituting for a few weeks as she undergoes chemotherapy and radiation, which can’t be interrupted by COVID-19 exposure.

Despite that, she is still able to connect with staff and students virtually, she said.

“It is truly a privilege and an honor to be in this position,” Shea said. “I thank each of you for the opportunity to serve you.”