Staff Profiles

What do you like about working at Shelton? 
Coming to school each day doesn't feel like a job. It feels like a home away from home. The people I get to work with truly feel like family. 

What is one of your favorite memories about working at Shelton?
It's hard to pick! Honestly, all four years that Lena Hilbert and I shared a classroom together would have to be my favorite. From the many exciting field trips to adopting the sweetest class bunny, Ted, and quarantining a record-breaking three times in one year, there's just so much to choose from. ;) We grew a lot in that time and had a ton of fun. 

Which of your Shelton colleagues do you admire and why?
One of the great things about Shelton is the incredible staff. Everyone is dedicated to the work we do here, which is inspiring. I have especially admired Amy Cushner and Christine Davis. They both exemplify steadfastness in their leadership of Lower School and Upper Elementary. I am forever grateful that they see my potential and encourage me to achieve my personal and professional goals. 

What teacher had the most impact on you and why?
I've had a long history of amazing teachers, but it all began in Kindergarten with Mrs. Hawkins. From an early age, I dreamt of becoming a teacher just like her! Occasionally I will run into her at Target and each time I'm brought back to that classroom at Otis Brown and immediately filled with joy. I hope that one day a former student can say the same about their time in my class! 

What's a fun fact about you?
I studied abroad in Oxford during my undergrad and met Emma Watson!

What do you like about working at Shelton? 
The camaraderie and family that I have built with other staff members. 

What is one of your favorite memories about working at Shelton? 
I was asked to participate in a dunk tank at a Senior Rally day (at the old building). The students kept missing the target so I thought I was safe. Then a former physics student of mine walked up and said, "Hey Doc, remember that 70 on that quiz?" We all laughed then he threw the ball and hit perfectly and into the tank I fell. 

Which of your Shelton colleagues do you admire?
Hannah Morel. She dedicates so much of her time to our students by teaching, volunteering and working to help students succeed in all academic areas and even as they begin their college careers. 

What teacher had the most impact on you and why? 
Mr. Brown, my high school Chemistry and Physics teacher. He was always so enthusiastic about being a teacher and worked to ensure that students enjoyed some of the more difficult classes we took in high school. He was so influential to me that I dedicated my Ph.D. Dissertation to him. 

What's a surprising fact about you? 
I play roller derby for a league in Plano. I have been actively playing for eight years. 

What is one of your favorite memories about working at Shelton? 
I love hearing the stories of Shelton alumni at the beginning of the year. It's inspiring to see how many lives have been touched by Shelton. 

Which of your Shelton colleagues do you admire and why?
Anne-Marie Shiflet is such a thoughtful and kind person. She is always willing to help in any way she can. She inspires me to be a better version of myself every day.

What teacher had the most impact on you and why? 
My fourth-grade teacher. I loved our quiet time, when she read to us. I can still remember her reading "Summer of the Monkeys" to us. This is why I love reading to my kids.

What's a fun fact about you? 
I am working on getting my Montessori Certification.

What do you like about working at Shelton?
Being around passionate and dedicated educators from whom I learn every day.

What is one of your favorite memories about working at Shelton?
When my students become teary-eyed at the end of the school year because they have made great friends and have experienced magical moments in their learning.

Which of your Shelton colleagues do you admire and why?
Amy Cushner for her inspiring leadership and for believing in me. Peggy Krug for taking me under her wing and showing me the ropes when I was a newbie at Shelton. AnaMaria Teodorescu for her grace and compassion with the children and for helping end the day with giggles.

What's a surprising/fun fact about you?
I am very good at one particular tongue twister about Betty and her butter!

What do you like about your job?
I love the incredibly positive response I get when I tell people I'm a teacher at Shelton. They are always so impressed. As a frustrated actress, I love being 'on stage' and being able to relay stories of my life when they are relevant to our discussions. I love the challenge of looking for ways to improve my curriculum. When I stop caring about being a better teacher, that's when I know it will be time for me to retire. But, most of all, it's all about the kids, the kids, the kids. Every year I think I can't possibly love the next year's kids as much as I did this year's, but I always do.

What do you like about working at Shelton?
One of the greatest things about working at Shelton is that I am so privileged to work with my fellow fifth-grade teachers. We respect and deeply care about each other. We are there for each other in the hard times as well as the happy times. We are all eager to share with each other, whether it's a suggestion for a lesson or advice on how to deal with a challenging situation. We are more than a team — we are a family.

Which of your Shelton colleagues do you admire?
There are so many people at Shelton I have great admiration for, but the ones that come to mind right now are Elena Murillo and all the maintenance staff. They quietly go about their jobs behind the scenes, accomplishing so many varied tasks. And always with a smile on their faces. Without them, Shelton would literally come to a standstill. 

What is one of your favorite memories about working at Shelton?
Dancing/singing in the Shelton show for our annual fundraiser. I can still recall hearing G-g Shryer's beautiful voice and watching Joyce Pickering tap dance. I absolutely loved every second of it. Closest I'll ever get to Broadway!

What teacher had the most impact on you?
When I was in the third grade at Bradfield Elementary, I had a foreign exchange teacher from England, 
Mrs. Garner. Because she was homesick, every day after lunch she read to us from 'King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.' To listen to her read about the adventures of King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot and Merlin with her British accent was pure magic for me. That's when I fell in love with the power of the written word. It's also the reason why I'm a huge Anglophile to this day.

What is one of your favorite memories about working at Shelton? 
One of my favorite memories was seeing the excitement on our 2020-2021 Boys Basketball team after announcing that we had made the playoffs. Knowing the time and effort they had put into the season, it was truly a joy to see them accomplish a goal they had set as a team.

Which of your Shelton colleagues do you admire and why? 
I admire all of my colleagues because it's clear to see that everyone has the same goal and that is to see each and every one of our students succeed both academically and in life. 

What's a fun fact about you? 
I once co-wrote the National Championship song for the 2009 University of Alabama Football team.

What do you like about working at Shelton? 
My peers. All of them are superb in what they do every single day. I am awestruck by the amount of work and dedication that each of them put in for our students. 

 What is one of your favorite memories about working at Shelton? 
The end of each teaching day because I get the privilege to be a teacher.

 Which of your Shelton colleagues do you admire and why? 
I admire the whole English department in the Upper School. The amount of intellect that is in this department is only rivaled at a college level. I have learned something from one of these magnificent teachers every single day I have been at Shelton. I continue to be impressed every day by them and that says something, because I am hard to impress.  Every single one of these teachers is above reproach for their students and peers. If I can be even 10 percent as effective as these teachers, that is success for me and my students.

 What teacher had the most impact on you and why? 
Dr. Mark Martin and Dr. Laure Ames during graduate school at Dallas Baptist University. I admired their professionalism and inspiration to go above and beyond the average teaching day. They were always an email, phone call or text away from dropping whatever they were doing to help any of their students no matter the cost to their time.

What's a fun fact about you? 
I am currently training to do a 30 for 30 in the month of June. I am planning on running 30 marathons in 30 days to raise money for cancer research.
 

What is one of your favorite memories about working at Shelton? 
I have really enjoyed getting to hear all of the Shelton alumni who come back and speak about their experiences here. 

Which of your Shelton colleagues do you admire and why? 
I admire Krista Norwood, Director of the Speech, Language & Hearing Center. She pours into her speech therapists in the Speech Center just as much as she pours into her students every week. I'm so thankful for her!

What's a surprising/fun fact about you? 
I have lived in Arizona, California, Alabama, Massachusetts and now Texas.