Student Profiles

What's the best advice you've received? 
The best advice I received from multiple teachers has been to have more confidence in myself and to trust myself. 

How has Shelton impacted your life? 
Shelton has given me the opportunity to learn in a way I understand, and this has really changed my life. For a long time I did not feel smart, but Shelton showed me that I am smart, and this has given me confidence in my academics. 

Would you recommend Shelton? 
Yes, I would recommend Shelton because it gives students the ability to be confident in their academics and allows them to get the best education that caters to their needs. 

What advice do you have for incoming students? 
The advice I have for incoming students is to persevere in your studies even when things get hard. Learning is not easy, and just because you don’t understand something right away or you need extra help, it does not mean you are not smart. 

What are your college and career aspirations? 
I will attend the University of North Texas to study Studio Art. My college aspirations are to work hard and to continue to indulge in my passion for art. My career aspirations are to do art professionally. 

What is a fun fact about you? 
A fun fact about me is that I was in the Dallas newspaper in 2020 for having a socially distanced birthday party in a parking lot during COVID. 

What are you looking forward to this semester? 
I am looking forward to graduating and moving on to the next stage of my life. Over the last semester, I had a lot of fun at the ISAS Festival, the Top Ten Breakfast and Night of the Arts. 

Would you recommend Shelton?
Yes. I would recommend Shelton for anyone who's struggling with learning differences.

What advice do you have for new students?
Continue to work hard. We just learn differently. 

What are your college and career aspirations?
I'm going to Baylor, where I plan on majoring in Business or Elementary Education. I'm very excited.

What is a fun fact about you?
I'm left-handed.

What are you looking forward to this semester
Graduation and all the fun senior activities.

Would you recommend Shelton?
I would definitely recommend Shelton. This school gives you the knowledge you need to make your learning differences less noticeable. 

What advice do you have for incoming students? 
Branch out from what you think you may enjoy and you may find your lifelong passion. 

What are your college and career aspirations? 
I am planning to attend Texas Tech and get my Master’s degree in Architecture and Bachelor’s degree in Business. I want to do anything with architecture and, ideally, I would get to run or help run an architecture firm. 

What is a fun fact about you? 
I love photography and always will.  

What are you looking forward to this semester? 
I am looking forward to wrapping up my 14 years at Shelton. It will be bittersweet.

How has Shelton impacted your life?
Shelton has completely changed my self esteem and my confidence. Shelton's teachers and staff have equipped me and inspired me to be more confident in myself and my work. 

Would you recommend Shelton? 
Yes, I would recommend Shelton to anyone, not just people with learning differences. Throughout my time at Shelton, I have changed for the better. Shelton doesn't just equip students with the tools and resources needed to succeed, it  has inspired me to be who I want to be and prepared me for my life after Shelton.

What advice do you have for incoming students?
The one piece of advice I would give to incoming students is to get involved with as many things as you want to. Shelton has sports, clubs and activities for everyone no matter your experience. 

What are your college and career aspirations?
I will attend Texas A&M University and major in Sports Management. My career aspirations are to find a career that excites and interests me while allowing me to help and serve others. 

What is a fun/surprising fact about you? 
A fun fact about me is that I love to travel. I've traveled to four continents and many different states. I love learning and experiencing new places and cultures. 

What are you looking forward to this semester?
I'm looking forward to all the senior events. As the school year draws closer to the end, I'm looking forward to celebrating with my senior classmates, specifically graduation.

Would you recommend Shelton?
I would definitely recommend Shelton. The classes are small and the teachers are supportive and always available to help.

What advice do you have for incoming students?
Work hard, stay organized and reach out to your teachers whenever you need help.

What are your college aspirations?
I'm going to Santa Clara University in California, where I will major in computer science.

What is a fun/surprising fact about you? 
I enjoy cooking and testing out new recipes.

What are you looking forward to this semester?
Graduating, going to college and starting the next phase of my life.

What's the best advice you've received? 
The best advice I have received is to do the intangibles because that can set you apart.

How has Shelton impacted your life? 
Shelton has impacted my life by teaching me the importance of hard work, perseverance and persistence. 

Would you recommend Shelton?
I would recommend Shelton because the teachers are very supportive, yet they also challenge you academically. 

What advice do you have for incoming students? 
My advice for incoming students would be: Get involved! Embrace doing things that you enjoy, and work hard from day one because grades matter!

What are your college and career aspirations? 
My college and career aspirations are to be successful academically and athletically. I will attend Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minn., where I will play for the women’s basketball team. I am entering undecided for my major, but I want to do something in the health sciences. Eventually I want to find a career opportunity within the health sciences.

What is a fun/surprising fact about you? 
I chipped my front left tooth twice. The first time, the tooth was knocked out in a basketball game, and the second time I bit into a hard piece of candy. 

What are you looking forward to this semester? 
I am looking forward to this semester and all of the senior activities that will take place in April and May where I can spend time with my friends that I might not see often when I go to college.

Who has been your favorite teacher?
My favorite teacher is Mrs. Blythe Mundlin. I have never loved reading or writing and struggled in English throughout middle school. In Mrs. Mundlin's English class, I grew more confident in my abilities and myself. She makes it a priority to understand her students' needs on both a personal and academic level. Even though I only had Mrs. Mundlin for one semester last year, I learned more from her through her kind demeanor and her true desire to help me grow. She taught me essential writing skills, but more importantly, she taught me to believe in myself.

What's the best advice you've received?
The best advice I've received is that a learning difference is just a different way of thinking and should not be an obstacle to achieving your dreams. 

How has Shelton impacted your life?
Shelton has impacted my life in a way beyond words. It has taught me reading and writing strategies to overcome my struggles with dyslexia, with teachers who are patient and willing to help me succeed. Shelton has also given me the opportunity to discover my talents.

Would you recommend Shelton? Why?
I would definitely recommend Shelton. Shelton may be a small school, but it has all the fun activities that a big school has such as school dances, sports and clubs. More importantly, it has an amazing community with kind students and caring teachers who are prepared to equip their students with the tools they need to be successful, regardless of their learning difference.

What advice do you have for incoming students?
My advice to incoming students is to get involved in anything you might be interested in, even if you have the slightest interest in it. Also, don't be afraid of going and asking your teachers for help because your teachers really do want to see you succeed.

What are your college and career aspirations?
I plan to attend Abilene Christian University in the fall of 2023. Currently I am undecided on a major, but I look forward to finding a degree that I will be both successful and happy in.

What is a fun fact about you? 
One interesting fact about me is that I love to travel and have been to more countries in the world than states. I have visited 13 different countries including Japan, Cambodia, Germany and Vietnam.

What are you looking forward to this year?
I am looking forward to more senior events and embracing my last year of high school.

What has been your favorite class?
U.S. History with Mr. Sam Crabtree and Broadcast Journalism with Mr. Hunter Duesing. Mr. Crabtree is one of my favorite teachers because he is a challenging, but fun teacher who made History class very memorable and exciting. Mr. Duesing is also one of my favorite teachers. He helped me discover my passion for filmmaking and editing and has been super supportive of all my projects. Additionally, while it was no specific class I can name, Mrs. Anné Hughes has also been a fantastic teacher and if it weren't for her being so supportive of me when I auditioned for a play on my first day at Shelton, I wouldn't be where I am today.

How has Shelton impacted your life?
As a freshman, I was shy and struggled in social situations. Mrs. Hughes and the other fantastic teachers, students and faculty at Shelton gave me the confidence I needed to transform into a very social person who is involved in theatre/film, track and student government and who loves spending time with friends.

Would you recommend Shelton?
Yes. Shelton does a great job providing the resources needed to allow students to achieve their dreams and discover new passions and gain confidence. Shelton helped me discover my passion for filmmaking and gain the confidence to pursue filmmaking and my other goals.

What advice do you have for incoming students?
Take advantage of the resources Shelton gives you, and try any extracurricular you think you might like. 

What are your college and career aspirations?
I will attend SMU in the fall and double-major in Film and Broadcast Journalism. Out of college, I plan to become a film screenwriter.

What is a fun/surprising fact about you?
I once said on a local television station that I would take over the world. That's not the fun/surprising fact though, the fun/surprising fact is that I was completely serious.

What are you looking forward to this semester?
Going to ISAS and getting to share my film project and see the film projects my friends made. Also, representing Shelton at the District Track meet and competing with my teammates.

Watch Tyler Primeaux's WFAA Scholar Athlete Interview

How has Shelton impacted your life?
Attending Shelton has changed my life, I can actually function as a student. Shelton has shown me I can focus and get my work done. And I am doing really well in classes. I have met so many friends and I have really good teachers.

Would you recommend Shelton? Why?
My old school only said bad things about me. Shelton built me back up.

What advice do you have for incoming students?
Once you realize your disability isn't a disability — it's a gift — it changes everything. 

What are your college and career aspirations?
I have been accepted at Texas Christian University where i plan to major in engineering and minor in business.

What is a fun fact about you? 
I play a mean hand of dominoes and I really like Classic Rock. 

What are you looking forward to this year?
Graduation! 

Favorite teacher: My favorite academic teacher was Mrs. Julie Niederer. She was my geometry teacher sophomore year. I have always had a hard time in math, and geometry was no exception. However, Ms. Niederer made me feel safe making mistakes as long as I was trying my hardest. She was so kind and understanding of my learning challenges. I never felt like a burden to her or that I was dumb. She always made sure of that! I ended the year with a 94 in her class, and I've never been more proud of a grade in my life!

On Shelton: Without Shelton, I don’t think I would have been as confident in myself as I am today. Shelton made me feel accepted for my learning difference and happy about going to school. I was encouraged to be involved in everything from soccer, tennis, and cheer, to theater, student council, and NHS. At most other schools, it's hard to be involved in more than one activity. Shelton encourages its students to be involved in more than one activity, and that is ultimately what I've always loved about Shelton in addition to the small class sizes, the accommodating teachers, and the welcoming environment. 

Why Shelton? I would recommend Shelton to anyone struggling with a learning difference. Coming from a public school, I was constantly being pulled out of everything I enjoyed for extra tutoring.  I got pulled out of choir, recess, and other classes that I loved so that I would do better on the STAAR test. At Shelton, there is no pressure to pass a standardized test; plus the teachers here have given me the tools I need to reach my full potential.

College/career aspirations: I plan to pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre once I graduate from Shelton. I am going to the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. I love to sing, so adding dance and acting to that makes a career in musical theatre the perfect plan for me. Shelton's Fine Arts Director, Anné Hughes, really helped me discover my passion for it. It's a wonderfully safe environment that lets me learn, try new things, and make mistakes. With that, I have been able to break out of my shell, explore, and take risks.

Fun fact: One surprising fact about me is that I am the youngest of seven children. All of our names begin with the letter M and all seven of us were born in less than 12 years!

Looking forward: I am looking forward to all the senior privileges, in addition to the school musical, of course! I have watched previous seniors, year after year, enjoy their final year at Shelton, and I always longed for it to be my turn. This year I am a cheer captain for the cheer team and an officer on the Student Council. I can't wait for another great year!

What are your college and career aspirations?
My goal is to become a pilot, initially flying in the armed forces followed by a career with a major carrier. I will attend Hampton University to study Aviation/Flight Education.

What is a fun/surprising fact about you? 
I started my own DJ business when I was 12 years old. Additionally, I am a photographer, videographer and working towards my private pilot's license.

What are you looking forward to this year?
I am looking forward to a successful senior year, creating great memories with my friends and family, graduation and getting into the college of my choice.

How has Shelton impacted your life? 
It has taught me different tools to help overcome my dyslexia and reading struggles as well as be successful in school. Some examples are learning how to utilize read and write software, keeping myself organized and teaching me how to advocate for myself, such as asking for a reader or extra time on tests or quizzes. I no longer feel embarrassed to ask for those things if I think they will help me.

Would you recommend Shelton? 
Yes. I think it's a good balance of having the small classes and accommodations needed for students with a learning difference to be successful, but it also has all of the great things that come with a large school, such as things like football games, lots of clubs, pep rallies and school dances.

What are your college and career aspirations? 
I will attend the University of South Florida, where I plan on majoring in Marine Biology. I have also been accepted into the USF Honors College. I will be a member of the Division One-level Track and Cross-Country teams at USF.  I hope to get a Master's degree and maybe even a Ph.D. in Marine Biology. I would love to one day do research on sharks or on coral reef ecosystems.

What is a fun/surprising fact about you?  
I'm SCUBA certified and I was able to SCUBA dive in the Georgia Aquarium with two whale sharks for my sixteenth birthday.

What are you looking forward to this year? 
I'm looking forward to helping plan events with the student council and I'm excited to participate in all the fun senior activities that are planned for this year. Lastly, I'm excited to be running again after a stress fracture in my hip this past spring and to be able to compete in State again this year for cross country.

Started at Shelton: His junior year.

Learning difference: Dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and ADD.

Clubs and activities: I have been on the Shelton football team for two years and I am on the crew in theatre.

Favorite experience at Shelton: I have had many good experiences like football and having small classes, but the one that surprised me was being on the theatre crew. This is something I had not done at previous schools and I found out that I really liked it and will be pursuing it during my senior year.

Favorite class and teacher:  I have had a lot of great teachers, but Mr. Clay Houston is the one who has had a big impact on me. His tech theatre class focused on the technical things that go on behind the scenes of a great show.

How Shelton has impacted his life: Shelton has helped me understand how to work with my learning differences, not to work around them or avoid them.  High school was tough for me and I didn't enjoy it. Coming to Shelton for my last two years of high school gave me confidence in my ability to learn.

Would you recommend Shelton: I would say to anyone who has a learning difference and just doesn't like school, 'Shelton is the place for you.' Shelton not only helps with dyslexia, but it allows students to enjoy the school experience and not be stressed out all the time.

College aspirations: I have been accepted to the college I wanted to attend, Texas A&M at Corpus Christi, to study Mechanical Engineering Technology and Ocean Engineering. I also expect to be accepted at other schools. I always wanted to go to a college near the ocean and work around water.

Fun fact: I have spent my last couple summers doing high-adventure, long-distance (more than 50 miles) backpacking and white-water trips at altitudes above 10,000 feet with very heavy backpacks, carrying my own food and water.  On my northern Montana trip, we were 200 miles from civilization." 

What he's looking forward to this year: Graduating. Even though Shelton has been a great place for me, my school experiences have not always been awesome. Walking across the stage will be about the coolest thing I can think of.

Who has been your teacher?
Ms. Shelly Whitfield. She makes British Literature enjoyable and she helps me. She's understanding. English is not my best class, but she guides me and supports me.

How has Shelton impacted your life? 
Shelton has shown me that I'm not alone and that it's okay to have a learning difference. I feel like it's okay to ask questions in a big group or have a teacher repeat something. I have learned so many tools throughout my 11 years that I can't wait to use in college, such as the binder and organizational skills.

Would you recommend Shelton?
Absolutely. It was the best decision my parents ever made for me.

What are your college and career aspirations?
I plan to study education at the University of Oklahoma. I want to be a teacher for pre-K or elementary kids.  

What's a fun fact about you?
People called me Syd Yellow when I was younger because I loved the color yellow. I try to find the positive in every bad situation, so yellow is a happy color for me.

What are you looking forward to this year? 
Going through the college process is exciting. I'm excited about senior privileges like going off campus and  rally days. I want to live in the moment because senior year is flying by.

How has Shelton impacted your life?
Shelton has taught me to be independent and take pride in my work. Conferences have especially helped because I've been taught how to stand up for myself. Shelton has undoubtedly made me the student I am today. The lessons I've learned will carry me through my adult life.

What are your college and career aspirations? 
I will attend Texas A&M University in the Fall of 2023 and will major in Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management More specifically, I will focus on Aquaculture and Fisheries. I aspire to be a Texas Game Warden.

What's a fun/surprising fact about you? 
I became an uncle at the age of 12.

What do you look forward to? 
I look forward to all the senior events as well as to creating lasting memories with my classmates.

How has Shelton impacted your life?
Shelton has given me self confidence and an accepting community that has inspired me to reach for goals that just seemed like dreams at first.

Would you recommend Shelton?
I would recommend Shelton because Shelton has done some pretty amazing things for me by allowing me to be involved in several extracurricular activities while still maintaining straight A's.

What are your college aspirations?
I plan to go to Rollins College and double major in Engineering and Marine Biology.

What's the best advice you've received? 
Some of the best advice I have received from a teacher was that no matter what college I attend, I need to stay focused on advocating for myself and putting my best foot forward.

How has Shelton impacted your life? 
Shelton has provided me with a platform to carry into college. Not only have I learned skills for the classroom, but I have also learned to express myself confidently.

Would you recommend Shelton? 
I would recommend Shelton to students who are not only struggling with a learning difference, but maybe feels as if they don't fit in at their school. Shelton welcomed me into a safe environment, which allowed me to enrich my social, personal and academic skills.

What advice do you have for new students? 
If you are new to Shelton, don't stress about it being a new school. This is a safe place where you can actually be yourself. Embrace your learning difference and engage with all of the special opportunities you are offered at Shelton.

What are your college and career aspirations?
My plans are to study Neuroscience and Behavior in South Bend, Indiana, at the University of Notre Dame or Saint Mary's College this fall. 

What is a fun/surprising fact about you? 
After college, I would like to get my private pilot's license.

What are you looking forward to this year? 
I am looking forward to graduating and taking the next step to college because I feel well prepared for this new journey.

What's the best advice you've received?
The best advice that I have received is that you get out what you put in. I have seen this coming to play in a lot of different aspects within my life whether it's success in sports or a fun high school environment. I feel that the more you put into something, the more fun and/or success you will have.

Would you recommend Shelton?
I would recommend Shelton because it is a small enough environment where you can accomplish many different things and have confidence to try a lot of new things; yet, it is big enough to allow having a steady friend group and enough social interaction.

What advice do you have for incoming students?
Try a lot of new things because it will introduce you to a lot of new friends.

What are your college and career aspirations?
I signed to play baseball and football as a punter/kicker at Hendrix College. After college, I'd like to become a coach.

What is a surprising fact about you? 
I have 14 horses in my backyard.

Started at Shelton: Fifth grade.
Learning difference: ADHD and Auditory Processing Disorder. 
Clubs/sports: Varsity Soccer as the keeper. 

What has been your favorite experience at Shelton?
My favorite experience at Shelton was when I saved the game-winning penalty kick in a PK overtime.

What is your favorite class? 
My favorite class has been psychology with Mr. Tobin Knox. He helped me truly think deeply about real-world social problems.

What's the best advice you've received? 
Practice until you can't do it wrong.

What advice do you have for new students? 
Enjoy yourself and don't let it be too stressful.

What are your college and career aspirations? 
I was invited to continue my studies at the Texas Tech University in the Whitacre Engineering College specifically in the mechanical engineering program. I am looking forward to that and discovering what I can do with a subject I really enjoy.

What has been your favorite class?
My favorite class in high school is Physics I with Dr. Franklin. It's math-based and I love math so much! I can apply the math to real-world problems, which is an aspect of Physics I love a lot. Dr. Franklin is a great teacher since she is very energetic, makes class fun, is very knowledgeable, and she absolutely loves to teach students.

How has Shelton impacted your life?
Shelton has taught me to advocate for myself, be confident in my abilities and stay organized.

Would you recommend Shelton?
Absolutely! Shelton brings out the best of students with learning differences and gives all students their moment to shine in extracurricular activities and academics.

What are your college and career aspirations?
I plan to study computer engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology. 

What is a fun fact about you? 
I love to repair and modernize arcade games, particularly claw machines.

What are you looking forward to this year?
I am looking forward to college and being as prepared as possible so I can be successful and pursue my aspirations.

What's the best advice you've received?
The best advice I've received was from my grandmother, who said that the willingness to work hard is by far the most important factor in success. This helped me realize the importance of hard work and how beneficial characteristics can only take you so far in life unless they are brought to their full potential by hard work.

How has Shelton impacted your life?
Shelton has dramatically improved my life by helping me control my ADHD and improve my academic competence.

What advice do you have for incoming students?
My advice for incoming students would be to get to know other students. The vast majority of students at Shelton are very friendly and welcoming. I have never witnessed an incoming student struggle to make friends and become involved in social activities.

What are your college and career aspirations? 
I hope to attend SMU and take over the operation of my parents' electrical company, Electricman.

What is a surprising fact about you?
A surprising fact about me is that I enjoy spending time at our property in the countryside.