As an avid lifelong learner, Shirley completed her formal education at Eastern Kentucky University with a non-degree Rank I Instructional Supervisor certificate. Prior to that, she earned a Master’s Degree in Education at Western Kentucky University with a major in Library Science and a minor in Education and an undergraduate degree from Eastern Kentucky University with a major in English and a minor in Library Science. Shirley has been recognized at various points in her career for her service to the education profession. She is most proud of being awarded Secondary Teacher of the Year by a local regional university, and, recently, the DaVinci Award, Appalachian Renaissance Initiative, for promoting the value of teaching and learning in eastern Kentucky. She has also written articles for a state leadership publication – The Kentucky School Leader.
On her professional journey, she has served as school media specialist; professional development and gifted and talented coordinator; adjunct instructor for Eastern Kentucky University; consultant for the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), leading the school improvement planning initiative; and as a director of professional learning for the Kentucky Association of School Administrators (KASA) – working to develop and improve leadership through the Kentucky Leadership Academy (KLA) and other initiatives.
Shirley has also served in other supportive capacities. She was one of the founding members of the Lake Cumberland Restructuring Group – dedicated to improving secondary schools in southern Kentucky. While at KDE, she assisted in the development, refinement and implementation of the Standards and Indicators for School Improvement – a process to determine the overall effectiveness of a school, from curriculum, assessment and instruction, and school and community relationships, to professional learning, leadership, school management, and improvement planning. This process was adopted by many states throughout the country.
During her 14-year tenure at KASA, she worked, in collaboration with KDE and the Wallace Foundation, to develop a teacher leadership certification curriculum, a “turn around” principal preparation program, and the development of a leadership continuum that Kentucky’s professional standards board adopted as a requirement for all state colleges and universities to use as the principal preparation curriculum. Through partnerships with KDE while at KASA, Shirley participated from day one to full implementation of Kentucky’s new educator effectiveness system. She participated through being a part of the design team, participating on oversight committees, and providing training and support to practitioners through KLA and other venues. She was also selected to serve on the guiding task force, facilitated by Learning Forward, to create new professional learning standards and guidance documents for Kentucky. These have now been adopted and are in state regulation.
Throughout her career, Shirley has worked extensively to support growth in both students and educators. She has a passion for building professional, caring relationships in the support of personal and school improvement. She hopes to continue to foster this passion during her tenure with Edwards Educational Services.
For more information on Shirley’s work and career, please contact her at: Shirley@edwardsedservices.com