Sheila James

University of Georgia

BBA Finance

MEd Elementary Education

 

I have been married to Dana since 1981, and we have three married sons and three grandchildren.

 

I was an only child, so although I had plenty of wonderful neighborhood friends, I spent much of my time by myself -- mostly reading. I loved trips to the library! The library bookmobile would also make regular visits to my neighborhood in the summer -- days I always looked forward to. I loved school and got my strokes from making good grades. I was usually engaged in quiet activities like reading, puzzles, and playing with my dolls. Imagine my adjustment when I grew up to have three very lively boys!  

 

This one is easy. I had Mr. Hladik - a short, stocky, bald guy - for every one of my high school math classes, and I adored him. He was tough and pushed me to do my best, but he was the kind of teacher that you wanted to make proud. He had a competitive system in his class that would probably be frowned upon today but worked for me then. My senior year he called us all by our title and last name -- Miss Jackson -- and that made me feel so mature.

 

I really love my job, so even outside of work I often find myself thinking about work projects. I am an avid reader and love to read books on education and the classics, but I'm not above thoroughly enjoying a good murder mystery. I also love music, good movies, jigsaw puzzles (still), word and number puzzles, and pulling weeds. There's such a sense of accomplishment in pulling weeds!

 

I love the challenge of designing a curriculum that is cohesive and cumulative and builds a rich foundation of knowledge for our students. This foundation is essential to tackling advanced learning and critical thinking. I love working with the brilliant educators who are my colleagues. I am so blessed to be part of an effort that is literally changing hearts and shaping lives.

 

"Who dares to teach must never cease to learn."  - John C. Dana

 

"If ever the cause of Jesus Christ needed men and women who were informed, articulate, thinking, sure of what they believed and just as sure of how it was related to what they knew, it is now.  Producing men and women like that takes discipline, hard work, thought, and the best training available.  It also takes caring, but caring that pushes and stretches, that disciplines and challenges, that asks students to go the extra mile.  Whom the teacher genuinely cares about, she teaches with rigor."  - Richard A. Riesen, Piety and Philosophy

 

"An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it."  - Mahatma Gandhi

 

For those who know me and my aversion to exercise, it might be a surprise to know that I once completed a half-marathon in NYC.  Now, granted, I walked, not ran, the entire distance, and the trip to NYC was a major draw, but I still did it!