Our Central Bank teacher of the month is Shelby Willis, a 3rd grade teacher at Mapleton Elementary. In just her 3rd year in the classroom, Shelby has proven to be an exceptional teacher and leader whose influence won’t soon be forgotten.
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Shelby comes from a family “full of teachers” and has always loved kids. That love led her to pursue a career in Education. After graduating from Brigham Young University she accepted a position at Mapleton Elementary where she had completed her student teaching. Shelby spent her 1st year in 4th grade, before moving to 3rd grade where she has already made a significant impact on students and colleagues alike.
One of her colleagues noted: “Shelby is so easy to work with! She is quick to jump in, whether it’s helping with a faculty party, assisting another teacher with a student who is having a hard time, or going out of her way to check in on her peers. She’s a team player who is always willing to share ideas or work together for the good of the student. She is kind and supportive, calm and steady. I truly can’t say enough good things about her!”
Shelby’s favorite part of teaching is the relationships she gets to build, particularly with her students. Every morning, she greets them at the door with a warm smile and personal welcome. In each interaction, she is kind and genuine ensuring her students feel important and loved. She takes the time early on to get to know her students individually, so she can support and encourage them in meaningful ways. She even has a “special” board in her classroom where students can invite her to attend their extracurricular activities, and she often shows up to their ball games and events after hours and on the weekend to show her support. Miss Willis is her students’ biggest cheerleader, and they all know it!
Perhaps most notable to her students is Shelby’s skill in making learning fun! She has the unique ability to keep students engaged and having fun, all while pushing them to be their very best. Her expectations are high, but her support and encouragement are higher. Shelby helps her students set individual goals that she carefully monitors and supports throughout the school year. She relishes in seeing her students succeed and will do anything she can to help them learn and grow.
One parent commented: “My son loves being in Miss Willis’s class! He is genuinely excited to go to school every day because she has found a way to make even the hardest or trickiest subjects interesting and fun. Even more meaningful, he knows his teacher cares about him, is interested in him, and wants to see him succeed which has motivated him to work hard and set goals for himself. Showing up to his championship soccer game on a Saturday morning was the icing on the cake to a wonderful school year!”
Outside of teaching, Shelby enjoys spending time with her family in Colorado– especially her eight nieces and nephews. She loves sports, playing volleyball, and watching her favorite hockey team. In her free time, she can almost always be found reading a good book.
Thank you, Shelby Willis, for positively impacting and enriching the lives of students in the Mapleton community.
